Huddersfield A Team/Falcons 35 – 5 Ossett Second XV
A combined A Team and Falcons side took on a grizzled Ossett 2s, at a surprisingly dry and mild Lockwood Park on Saturday.
The first 20 minute were a very even contest. The game struggled to flow through a mix of handling errors and ruck infringements.
The break finally came on 25 minutes. New Moroccan signing, Zakaria Bendich, gathered the ball in his own half, beat two defenders down the flank, before chipping into the 22. The full back gathered, but Zak showed great strength in turning the ball over at the ruck. A knock on from the ensuing tight play gave Ossett the scrum. As they tried to run the ball through the backs, great line speed from the defensive line resulted in the Ossett centre dropping the ball. Another exotic new signing, Mike Rafferty gathered the ball and ran unopposed under the posts. Scrimshaw converted 7-0 Field.
The Huddersfield mix of age and experience now started to click and it was the vastly experienced Duffy to score next. Another scrum on the Ossett 22 resulted in a penalty to Huddersfield. Duffy showed he still has an eye for a gap. Taking a quick tap, Duffy showed he still has some pace too, charging through the slowly retreating defenders to go over on the right. Scrimshaw conversion 14-0 Field.
10 changes at half time and perhaps the biggest front row ever seen at Lockwood came on for Field. Josh Crickmay, Joe Shiel and Ashton Quashie brought power in the scrum and surprising flair for such big men.
It was Crickmay who was next to score. Big Pete Hampshire made a surging break up the right. He looked sure to score. Perhaps with one eye on his new girlfriend on the touch line, Pete inexplicably tripped over a blade of grass and all seemed lost. The ball was recycled however and the fearsome sight of Big Josh in full charge appeared. The brave Ossett defenders were skittled as Josh dotted down next to the posts. Cov Scrimshaw 21-0 Field.
Not to be outdone Joe Shiel was next to score, in outrageous fashion. Big Sam Burt, playing in his more accustomed 6 position, made a great break up the middle of the pitch before being tackled on the Osset 22. Shiel found himself at scrum half at the ensuing ruck. In classic scrum half fashion Shiel picked, stepped and threw an incredible dummy to the right. The whole pitch bought it. Joe went through the gap to gallop over unopposed from 80 metres out. Conv Scrimshaw 28-0 Field.
With ten minutes to go Big Pete made amends for his earlier indiscretion. Another powerful surge through a ruck in his own half saw Pete in open space. Another big man with incredible pace, Pete turned the full back inside out and was seen to wink at his beau on the touchline as he swan dived over. Conv Scrimshaw 35-0.
Ossett deservedly had the final say with a try at the death. A lovely sweeping move from their backs put their full back in at the corner. Conv missed. Final score 35-5
