By Brandon Reeves
Huddersfield’s high-flyers enjoyed what will be one of the memorable moments of the season when looking back, running amok over South Leicester with thirteen converted tries on their way to a 91-24 win.
While it put out a reminder to their peers that this promotion race isn’t over, the clinical display was a celebration of all that has been good and great about the side this season.
Pre-billed as a gimme against third-bottom in the table and rock-bottom in terms of form, Gareth Lewis will be immensely pleased that his side showed a ruthless edge.
“This was an excellent attacking performance with big contributions from all twenty players.
“What pleased me was we that managed to maintain the high tempo for most the game and score some fantastic tries.” beamed the Head Coach.
Kian Stewart who helped himself to a hattrick against South back in November went one better with four scores this time, Lewis Workman got a hattrick, vice-captain Lewis Bradley bagged a brace while Chris Johnson, Tom Hodson, skipper Dickie Piper and Joe Green all got in on the act.
Johnson managed to keep composure and slot away all thirteen conversions which is credit to the flyhalf.
Myles Bean of South found time to get a trio of tries himself as the visitors still managed a bonus try point despite being desperately defeated at Lockwood Park.
Field roared into the match, scoring after three minutes and enjoyed a twenty-minute spell that saw them fourty-two points ahead with a quarter of the match played.
Lewis Bradley set the tone, wriggling through in textbook fashion to put his side on their way.
Lewis workman was up next after a nicely played phase, Will Milner line-breaking and Tom Hodson sending Workman into the corner.
Kian Stewart benefitted soon after following Tom Hodson getting himself in a position to release either Johnson or Elliot Knight down the right, Johnson was played in before Stewart gave the finish.
Bradley showed impressive ball-carrying before setting up Workman who had the legs on the last man before going over in the corner.
Next was a more counterattacking try after Elliot Knight and Tom Hodson raced out of their own half before having Kian Stewart at the shoulder to run in another easy finish.
Rounding off the magnificent six-try spell was Johnson under the posts before converting.
Mercifully for the guests, who were visibly demoralised at this stage, there was a ten-minute break without score.
Stewart put paid to that after his teammates worked it across the 22 and Hodson supplied him for another saunter into the corner securing the hattrick.
At 49-0 down before half time, Leicester found a try through winger Myles Bean who undoubtedly was the light in their darkness, scoring just before the whistle.
There would be absolutely no let-up from ‘Field, Tom Hodson finished off another move where South’s defence was porous to the backline advances.
Five minutes later Kian Stewart scored his fourth with a piece of individual skill, beating a couple of men from the edge of the 22 and crossing the whitewash.
The style had been turned on and Workman felt it was a while since his last try, leaving South players for dust from inside his own half capping off his hattrick.
Myles Bean put the finish on Leicester’s best spell of the game with William Cave converting well.
There was room for a typical forward’s try from Dickie Piper, after the pack rolled the lineout maul over from 5m.
Then the most bizarre try of the day came from Lewis Bradley’s tenacity in putting pressure on the fumbling South man at his line who seemingly flung the ball into his try area desperately, upon which the number seven pounced.
Myles Bean then got his hattrick try which wasn’t converted, capping off a mixed day at best for the winger.
With time wearing on, and the scoreboard not being able to facilitate triple-digits, Joe Green breezed over for try thirteen after Kian Stewart turned provider for the scrum half.
South Leicester had the last word on proceedings getting themselves a bonus try, but the day was by far and away beholden to Huddersfield after a devastating performance, putting on a bit of a clinic by the end.
The victory leaves them third, six points off of second-placed Chester, who they travel to next week.
Gareth Lewis wants his side to enjoy the challenging run-in that includes playing two of the top four, an away derby at Wharfedale and a final day trip to Sedgley Park which could hold all sorts of possibilities for all involved.
“We now have four great games ahead of us, starting with Chester next Saturday. We are back playing with confidence again and intend to enjoy ourselves playing good rugby.”
