By Andrew Smith
A late Nick Sharpe try brought Huddersfield’s losing streak to an end in a lively encounter at Lockwood Park. Field beat Loughborough Students 24-20 to give them their fifth win of the season.
Field were without a win on home soil since early January and they were locked at 17-17 as full time approached but Sharpe managed to get the points Huddersfield needed to win.
In a game which could have gone either way, the spirited Loughborough outfit contributed a positive and direct approach which saw them pressing for the win deep into stoppage time.
In a tight first period Will Milner edged the hosts in front with an early penalty.
Then following a sustained spell of possession the Students went ahead, Henri Lavin picking up a loose ball outside Field’s 22. The flanker smashed his way through a series of tackles to claim the score.
Loughborough prop Mink Scharink saw yellow following a flare up on the half hour mark but the home side were unable to take advantage,
Huddersfield went in at the break losing 5-3.
Immediately after the restart a poor clearance kick from Field was fed out quickly to Loughborough’s wingman George Barber who made no mistake down the right. Tom Smith’s conversion stretched the lead to 12-3.
The hosts then struck back immediately. Lewis Bradley broke through the visitors defence on the halfway line, he then fed Kian Stewart on the right flank, the wingman’s pace secured Field’s opening try which was added to by Milner with his kick.the score now stood at 12-10 to Loughborough.
With their tails up, Field went ahead minutes later. A slick backline move created from a good scrummage ball, saw Stuart take the perfect line and sprinting over unopposed to score his second of the day. Milner stretched the lead to 17-12.
Going into the final quarter the Student’s desire to run with the ball paid dividends when neat interplay down the left between Ollie Pyle and Darragh Walsh saw the move stopped just short of the Huddersfield try-line. Quick recycling found the ball spun out to centre Alex Wainwright who forced his way over from close range. Smith’s conversion attempt drifted wide to keep the score level at 17-17.
With just five minutes remaining the Field pack gained momentum from a catch and drive 20 metres out. The visitors were unable to stem the tide and tight control of the maul resulted in Sharpe’s winning try.
The Students were not finished and Smith slotted a penalty in the final minute to reduce the deficit to four points. Looking for the win in time added on, tensions were raised as Milner was sent to the bin but Huddersfield stood firm for their fifth win of the season.
Huddersfield scorers
Tries: Stewart 44, 52, Sharpe 75
Conversions: Milner 44, 52,
Penalties: Milner 9
Huddersfield: Hodson, Stewart, Catleugh, Milner, Nunn, Law, Mason, Thompson, Stapley, Smith, Pearson, Sharpe, Parfitt, Bradley, Brown
Replacements: Brook, Hussain, Davis, Potter, Knight
