Huddersfield Aim To Jump Out Of Drop Zone Against Otley
Huddersfield will be looking to sign off 2019 with a victory when Otley visit Lockwood Park this weekend.
Gareth Lewis’ men were on the wrong end of a 15-10 score line against Luctonians last weekend and need a victory to give themselves a chance of heading into Christmas outside the relegation zone.
Otley meanwhile played out only the second 0-0 game in the history of the National Leagues against Preston and the first since 1990 between Maidenhead and North Walsham.
Having scored 62 past Scunthorpe and taking high-flying Fylde close in the two previous however, they have shown that they can possess significant threat when on song.
Home is where the heart is for Field recently and where they have found their own rhythm, unbeaten in three whilst on home turf having picked up impressive wins against Stourbridge and Loughborough Students along the way, and could move to within a point of their visitors in the league standings with a bonus point victory.
To do that they’ll be looking for the likes of Lewis Workman and Dickie Piper to continue their fine form at Lockwood Park, having picked up two tries apiece in the three aforementioned fixtures to help Field climb back up the table.
Josh Crickmay claimed his first try of the season on last weeks long journey down to Luctonians and will be hoping to build on that now as Field look to beat a side who held them to a 15-15 draw when they met on matchday 2 earlier in the year.
Victory was within sight for Field in a close encounter where it was only a late intervention from Alex Beaumont which prevented them gaining a first victory of the season, which they ended up having to wait until matchday 5 against Scunthorpe to pick up.
They’ll want no such complications this weekend as they look to avenge that late draw, in what should prove to be another hotly contested Yorkshire derby and the perfect sort of fixture to warm up a chilly end to 2019.
Lewis has commented in the build up: “It promises to be a full blown affair with a lot at stake for both teams. There are plenty of familiar names in both camos but I’m sure friend and even family connections will be put aside for the afternoon.”
“Otley are a big physical side with threats behind the scrum and we know it’s going to be a fierce battle.”
Field will want it to be a battle which is signed off with a victory.
Lineup
15 Tom Hodson
14 Kian Stewart
13 Lewis Workman
12 Elliot Munnelly
11 Elliot Knight
10 Charles Morgan
9 Joel Hinchcliffe
1 Reuben Pollard
2 Liam Stapely
3 Joshua Crickmay
4 Austen Thompson
5 Nick Sharpe
6 Pat Power
7 Lewis Bradley
8 Dickie Piper (C)
Subs
16 Andy Piper
17 Ross Thornton
18 Louis Frear
19 Jack Maplesden
20 Will Milner
