By Richard Sykes

Brothers Kian and Finlay Stewart both scored late tries but it was too little too late as Huddersfield RUFC went down to a 21-10 opening day defeat at Sandal.

Two converted tries inside the first half hour had Huddersfield on the ropes but tries by the Stewart brothers in the final quarter saw Field pressing for a win which had seemed most unlikely for the first 60 minutes.

With time running out Huddersfield were committed forward in search of a match winning score but when they lost possession Sandal shipped the ball wide to Jake Adams who ran in unopposed to seal a 21-10 victory for the home side.

After the game Field head coach Danny Brough expressed frustration with his team’s first outing and said: “It was a real disappointing effort today, I don’t think the effort was there from the start of the game.

“They wanted it more than us, played better rugby and we made more errors and that’s what killed us in the end. They defended really well and we weren’t smart enough.”

Field went behind in the fourth minute. From a lineout on the 22 Sandal moved the ball infield and then back to the right flank where hooker Alex Edler found himself in space to race home for a corner flag try which former Huddersfield man Tom Hodson converted from a difficult angle.

Although Sandal had the better of the early exchanges Field did show enterprise when in possession and a willingness to take the game to their opponents. However errors at the breakdowns meant they struggled to gain any meaningful momentum.

Sandal doubled their lead on 25 minutes. When Field lost a defensive lineout Sandal took possession from the scrum and a high pass was floated wide to the left wing.

Finlay Stewart gambled on an acrobatic interception but having missed it the ball landed comfortably in the hands of Luke Adams who darted in for an easy score, Hodson landing another impressive conversion.

Towards the end of the first half Field began to look more authoritative, showing a real readiness to run the ball and attack.

Sandal were pressured into penalty concessions which Field chose to kick to touch in search of the try. However carelessness and a strong defensive effort by the home side left Field pointless and the score remained 14-0 at the break.

Sandal had a chance to increase their lead from a penalty just after the interval but Hodson’s kick bounced back off the upright.

A couple more long range efforts were attempted by Hodson but he didn’t manage to add to the score and the balance of play gradually shifted into the Sandal half.

The breakthrough for Field came on the hour. From a lineout on half way flanker Liam Parfitt made a good break with centres Lewis Workman and Ed Barber in close support.

The ball was whisked to the right wing where Finlay Stewart raced in for a try on the overlap. Will Milner’s conversion attempt drifted just wide. Moments late Workman made another dynamic break through the centre and although good work at the breakdown by Sandal halted proceedings Field continued to press.

With seven minutes to go Field notched their second try, Kian Stewart finishing in similar fashion to his brother minutes earlier.

Bizarrely Milner never got to put his boot to the conversion attempt, the ball falling off the tee after he started his run up.

Field maintained the pressure as the final minutes ticked away but Sandal’s determined defence and counter rucking delivered turn over ball which led to Adam’s match clinching try which was followed by a comfortable conversion by Hodson from in front of the sticks.

A losing bonus point chance fell to Field in the dying moments, Sandal Number 8 Declan Thompson receiving yellow for thwarting it with a deliberate knock on.

Field were awarded a penalty and chose to scrummage but Sandal’s solid defence once again proved decisive.

Image by: Ray Morris