Huddersfield RUFC Senior Academy have progressed to the final of the Yorkshire Cup following quarter-final and semi-final wins on successive Sundays.
Having dispatched Malton and Norton away by 27 points to 5 a fortnight ago they hosted Sheffield ‘1’ at Lockwood Park last Sunday in what proved to be a close and tense affair. In the first forty minutes the teams tested each other out with the visitors shading the half with a converted try on the stoke of half time. Flanker Connor Mullaney crashed over from close range following a spell of sustained pressure with fly half Fergus Dobbs adding the conversion.
The third quarter proved indecisive with mistakes and some careless kicking out of hand by both teams seeing Sheffield failing to build on their lead and Huddersfield failing to challenge it. However when Ethan Myers scored a try in the corner for Huddersfield with 15 minutes to go it galvanised the home side. Although Myers failed to convert his try he struck a perfect penalty kick from wide out minutes later to give his team a one point lead as the clock ticked down.
Huddersfield maintained their momentum in the final minutes and a try by winger Jake Haynes after a neat running and passing exchange sealed the 13 points to 7 win for them.
Academy coach Mike Baggs was naturally pleased with his team’s efforts, particularly with their performance in the second half, commenting that ‘the lads showed real grit and determination which saw them through!’
Wharfedale or York will be their opponents in the final at Lockwood Park on 24th March.
Richard Sykes, Huddersfield Daily Examiner.
