By N Lawless
Huddersfield triumphed 21-12 over Chester in their final game of the season.
The result capped off what has been a very successful return to the National 2 North for ‘Field, who finish 9th in the 16-team league.
Chester in fact defeated Huddersfield in the first game of the season, perfectly highlighting the progress made by Gareth Lewis’ men.
Huddersfield made a strong start to the match, pushing Chester deep into their own half with some good pushing from the forwards.
It was a good, open start to the match that surprising wielded no points during the first 20 minutes where the home side looked the better team.
The breakthrough almost came on 27 minutes, where a good move released the onrushing Elliot Hodgson to finish the try, but whilst stretching he couldn’t quite ground the ball.
Fortunately, the referee had given Huddersfield the advantage and pulled play back for a penalty, dispatched by Chris Bell to give them the lead.
The try did come just five minutes later, a sweeping move across the length of the pitch finding Tom Owen on the right wing to finish off, Bell’s conversion unluckily hitting the post.
Chester hit back quickly with their own try, a quick passing move through the centre of the pitch finished off by Rhys Hayes who completed the conversion himself.
With the game suddenly bursting to life, another try followed right on the half-time whistle, Hodgson this time scoring down the left wing with a similar burst of pace to but ‘Field 13-7 up at the break.
The home side came out for the second period looking for more points and were rewarded within three minutes. A good spell of pressure from the forwards pushed Chester back towards their line and the ball was eventually switched to Michael Clark on the right wing to score, no conversion.
Another try followed five minutes later this time for Chester, a big push seeing Gavin Woods over the line with the missed conversion bringing the scores to 18-12.
It was to be the last points of the match for Chester with a seemingly easy penalty missed by Hayes on 54 minutes looking like their last chance wasted.
Huddersfield’s defence looked strong for the remainder of the match and the game was sealed after a late tackle gave substitute Joel Hinchliffe the chance to score from a penalty which he took with aplomb.
The game finally petered out during the last 20 minutes as Huddersfield saw out a final impressive win of the season in front of their home fans.
With a young team and the prospect of more players joining in the summer, ‘Field will be looking at next season with plenty of reason to be excited.
Huddersfield
Hodson, Clark, Hodgson, Owen, Knight, Bell, Jeffrey, Battye, Morrill, Sanderson, Thompson, Wood, Rhodes, Thornton, Sharpe
Subs: Lewis, Scrimshaw, Purcell, Hinchliffe, Walker (S)
Chester
Walsh, Kaitland, Foden, Cranen, Ross, Hayes, Williams, Woods, Farrell, Bevan, Gregory, White, Joseph, Wishnowsky, Bown
Subs: Moore, Morris, Towers
