Gareth Lewis looking for ‘special Lockwood Park game’ as Huddersfield host Tynedale
Huddersfield RUFC finally welcome Tynedale to Lockwood Park for their National II North fixture on Saturday after weather conditions previously forced the fixture to be cancelled twice over.
Huddersfield were looking to preserve a 100% winning record on the initial fixture date, but will now instead be looking to return to winning ways after putting up a credible display in the 15-24 loss against a Hinckley side who have now won 10 games in succession.
That result saw the gap between Field and Otley shrink to 5 points after the team in the final relegation spot managed to gain two bonus points in a 29-32 loss to Sheffield Tigers, so this weekend’s game holds extra significance as the fellow Yorkshire outfit host another relegation rival in the form of Luctonians.
Tynedale themselves aren’t completely safe from the drop either, a narrow 27-29 reverse against Stourbridge in their most recent game meaning they stand 10 points above Otley in the league standings, albeit with a game in hand on all the teams below them.
They’ll need a couple more positive results you would feel to ensure survival and will want them sooner rather than later as the bottom half continues to head towards a nervy finale.
However, Field know with a bonus point win they can move level on points with their opponents, and help fuel a push away from the relegation zone and the teams directly around them, with at least one side guaranteed to drop points from the Otley v Luctonians fixture.
A victory would also be ever sweeter to avenge the 33-18 defeat suffered at the hands of their visitors earlier in the season, where Field rallied well from a 26-8 deficit at halftime but left themselves with too high a mountain to climb in the second half.
Head Coach Gareth Lewis has commented: “At the third time of asking we are ready to go on Saturday.
“We’ve taken the positives from last weeks performance and understand the importance of this game for both teams.”
“We want another one of those special Lockwood Park games.”
A crucial fixture as they all are at this stage of the season, a victory would be most welcome for Gareth Lewis and his men, as National II North looks to be heading towards another dramatic finale.
Lineup:
15 Tom Hodson
14 Kian Stewart
13 Mark Pease
12 Will Milner
11 Elliot Knight
10 Charles Morgan
9 Jack Maplesden
1 Alex Battye
2 Fran Entressengle
3 Josh Crickmay
4 Dickie Piper (C)
5 Nick Sharpe
6 Pat Power
7 Liam Parfitt
8 Lewis Bradley
Replacements
16 Reuben Pollard
17 Ross Thornton
18 Liam Stapley
19 Harris Morris
20 Cail Cookland
