Huddersfield host Scunthorpe in Battle at the Bottom of National 2 North
Huddersfield will be looking to bounce back from last weeks defeat at Fylde as Scunthorpe come and visit Lockwood Park this Saturday in National League 2 North.
Fields result last time out was disappointing, a number of absentees contributing to finding Fylde too strong on the road in a 40-10 defeat which sees them placed just above this weekends visitors in the league table by one point.
In difficult weather conditions the ball proved hard to handle and led to many mistakes being made in possession by both sides, but Fylde ultimately dealt with it better and looked after the ball with more care than Field, which contributed as a key factor in seeing them claim a big win.
This will be an area that Field will have to show improvement this weekend as they search for their first win of the new season.
Head Coach Gareth Lewis is happy with the preparations his side have made in the build-up to the game, saying “We’ve used training this week to go back to basics and clarify one or two areas of our game. Even though it is still early days this is a very important game for both teams. We’ve had a tough start but we will not be judged on performance and I’m looking for the boys to put in their best showing of the season”.
After coming up from the Midlands Premier as champions, Scunthorpe have struggled to acclimatise to life in a higher division so far, sitting bottom of the table heading into Saturday’s clash having collected their three points so far this campaign through two try bonus points and a closely fought losing bonus point in their fixture against Sheffield Tigers.
Their free scoring in those games had given them a helping hand in claiming those points but it came to an abrupt halt in last weeks fixture against Wharfedale, taking an early lead through an unconverted try but failing to add to that tally in an eventual 5-24 loss to their visitors.
They’ll be hoping on this visit to get back to the levels which saw them score so freely in their opening trio of fixtures and claim bonus points despite losses in all three, and Lewis isn’t underestimating his Field sides latest opponents points scoring prowess , stating “Scunthorpe have scored plenty of points and have come close in virtually all their games, we’re fully aware of the attacking threats they possess.”
It’s all set up to provide a fascinating game of rugby, one with which both sides will be hoping they can use to properly kickstart their season.
Starting Line Up –
15 Tom Hodson
14 Kian Stewart
13 Tom Owen
12 Will Milner
11 Elliot Knight
10 Cail Cookland
9 Joel Hinchcliffe
1 Alex Battye
2 Ross Thornton
3 Reuben Pollard
4 Guy Borrowdale
5 Nick Sharpe
6 Harvey Keighley Payne
7 Liam Parfitt
8 Lewis Bradley (C)
Replacements
16 Callum Thompson
17 Liam Stapely
18 Tor Borrowdale
19 Jack Maplesden
20 Lewis Workman
