By Richard Sykes
Huddersfield RUFC went down to a second successive defeat – but it couldn’t have been any closer.
Field lost 33-32 in frustrating fashion at Driffield as mistakes proved costly.
Two tries by Ethan Myers eased Huddersfield into a first quarter lead but the hosts clawed back points immediately after each.
Driffield then drew ahead by cashing in on Huddersfield’s errors. A converted corner flag try by Fin Stewart midway through the second half put Huddersfield back in the game but a late Driffield score put the result beyond their reach.
Joe Christian’s try at the death secured two bonus points for Huddersfield but it was a case of three points lost rather than two gained on a frustrating afternoon at Kelleythorpe.
After the game Huddersfield skipper Liam Parfitt made no excuses. He said: “The lads put so much effort in, we gave it 110%.
“I thought we were better physically but we put ourselves under so much pressure. Exits; kick offs; kick receipts; the simple things; we compounded our errors and made things hard.
“If we had been more clinical in these areas having scored a try we would have been able to build pressure and take the game.”
Ryan Murray gave Driffield the lead with a 7th minute penalty but Field produced a good response. Having worked the ball through several phases they drew a penalty in front of the sticks but elected to kick for touch.
The tactic paid off with Myers dotting down in the corner for a try from the lineout which Will Milner converted.
Field began to dominate. Milner fashioned two classy cross field kicks which set Fin Stewart and Ritchie Hawkyard up on ground breaking runs.
Stewart made another run from deep with prop Loz Sanderson in close support and when Driffield were penalised at the breakdown Milner took the points.
These were cancelled out straight from the re-start when Field were penalised. A third penalty in as many minutes followed Driffield’s kick off return.
Milner set up an attacking lineout with a kick to touch which produced an identical try to the first one, Myers driving over in the maul. Milner’s conversion attempt bounced wide off the upright.
Field’s 8-point lead lasted all of 80 seconds. Driffield countered as soon as the ball was put back in play.
The ball was passed to the right wing where lock Henry Hughes popped up to complete the move and reduce the deficit with an unconverted try.
Driffield edged in front three minutes later. When Field lost possession inside their 22 they pounced. The ball went through three pairs of hands to Ben Blacker who nipped in at the corner for the first of his two tries.
Although Murray missed the conversion attempt he added six more points from penalties before the end of the first half to give his team a 22-18 lead at the interval.
Two more Murray penalties in the first 10 minutes of the second half opened up a 10-point lead for the hosts and heralded a determined attacking spell by the visitors.
Field drove Driffield back twice in successive scrummages and were perplexed to find themselves penalised at both, with prop Callum Thompson receiving a yellow card at the second setpiece.
Undaunted Field pressed on and after a powerful burst through the centre by Max Horsfall the ball was shipped wide to Stewart on the right wing for a try in the corner which was followed by an excellent touchline conversion by Milner.
Field maintained the pressure with a series of try line drives which the Driffield defence scrambled frantically to keep out. A penalty was conceded and Field set up an attacking 5 metre lineout.
Field’s throw-ins had been rock solid throughout but with a match-winning chance beckoning this one misfired. Driffield gained possession, took the wind out of Field’s sails and play into the visitors’ half.
Driffield then mounted a strong and sustained attacking spell of their own which put Field’s defence to the test. It produced a yellow card for Field lock Thiu Barnard but no further points for Driffield.
With the game in its final throes the result was still in the balance but when Blacker managed to squeeze in for his team’s third try he made it a two score game with just two minutes on the clock.
Field produced some fluent rugby at the death, Adam Wagerei, Sanderson and Milner combining well to take play into the Driffield 22.
Sanderson came close, penalties came thick and fast, two Driffield defenders were sent to the sin bin and finally, after a couple of driving mauls from lineouts, Christian clinched the try scoring bonus. Milner’s conversion was followed by the final whistle.
Huddersfield entertain Heath on Saturday November 16 (2.15). After back-to-back defeats they will be hoping to get back to winning ways.
Huddersfield: Stewart K; Stewart F; Horsfall; Wagarei; Hawkyard; Milner; Walker; Thompson; Myers; Sanderson; Barnard; Dalton; Christian; Haywood; Parfitt. Replacements: Moore; Patterson; Briggs.
Image by: RAY MORRIS
