By Richard Sykes
Huddersfield RUFC put on a six-try show to defeat Cleckheaton 48-21 at Lockwood Park with two tries apiece from Ed Barber and Max Horsfall.
Head coach Danny Brough expressed his pride and said: “I thought we took the game to them. We went six points down but we barred up in defence when it looked like they were going to break us down.
“As the game went on, our execution hitting leads and playing out of the back was really good. It was a top effort.
“I think that standards are rising at the club and we need to keep those standards going up and up.”
Field made an explosive start, working the ball through the phases to put pressure on the visitors’ line. But, having served notice of intent it was Cleckheaton that drew first blood, two Dale Breakwell penalties giving them a six-point lead after 10 minutes. The second one came after Field skipper Liam Parfitt saw yellow following a collision under a high ball.
Undeterred Field went back into attack and took the lead with a penalty try. Throughout the game they achieved swift go forward from solid setpieces.
They dominated the scrummages and secured clean lineout ball from which the half-back pairing of Josh Walker and Barber moved the team into top gear.
The try came after a break from halfway by winger Fin Stewart which led to an overlap on the right where Cleck winger Mikey Hayward was yellow carded for a deliberate knock on which prevented its exploitation.
A lapse in concentration after the re-start then allowed Cleck full-back Dom Brambani to round Field’s defensive line and score a try behind the posts which Breakwell converted.
Two more well worked tries by Field then took the score to 21-13 at half-time. The first came from a centre-field break and neat passing exchange between Barber and centre Lewis Workman with the latter getting the touchdown.
The second came after Cleck were penalised at the scrum and a powerful solo run by flanker Francis Estressengle set up Horsfall on a supporting line. Barber landed both conversions, the last an excellent kick from the touchline.
Cleck contributed mightily to a highly entertaining first 40 minutes, showing the same desire in attack and defence as Field.
The half ended with them pressing hard and a great turnover by Parfitt which prevented them adding to their tally.
The visitors made a strong start to the second half and narrowed the gap with another Breakwell penalty after Field hooker Harry Moore was sent to the sin bin for a tryline transgression.
Two Barber penalties in the space of two minutes then edged Field into a 27-16 lead. The big fly-half was proving a handful for the Cleck midfield and made noticeable yards with his line breaking running throughout, a particularly devastating blast leading to the second of the penalty infringements.
On the hour mark Barber personally contributed another seven points with the bonus point try and its conversion to leave Cleck facing a steep uphill battle in the final quarter.
With 68 minutes gone the visitors scored a second try in very controversial circumstances. Barber had been penalised for barging Hayward unceremoniously into touch.
The game stopped, with two players down receiving treatment and all men standing under the impression that play had been halted.
Haywood simply took a tap, trotted to the line and dabbed the ball down for a try that was allowed to stand despite the protests of the home team.
In the final 10 minutes Field produced a relentless onslaught during which Barber and Haywood got their second tries.
Barber was driven home from close range for his with Haywood cashing in on recycled ball after a good break by Entressengle. Barber converted both.
The game ended with Field pressing to push their score past the 50 point mark. After impressing early on with some amazing tackling Fin and Kian Stewart demonstrated their attacking flare with good running from deep but Cleck held firm.
Huddersfield: Hawkyard; Stewart K; Workman; Horsfall; Stewart F; Barber; Walker; Thompson; Moore; Sanderson; Christian; Barnard; Parfitt; Entressengle; Hammond. Replacements: Tangata; Myers; Dalton.
Image by: RAY MORRIS
