By Richard Sykes
Huddersfield RUFC made it three wins on the bounce with a 31-24 victory at Blaydon and moved to fourth place in the Regional 1 North East table.
In a game that see-sawed throughout both teams scored four tries but, on balance, Huddersfield kept control in the game with fly-half Will Milner’s kicking providing the match winning edge.
Blaydon’s artificial 3G playing surface made for open, running rugby and a tight knit performance by Milner, Ed Barber and Lewis Workman in midfield for Field helped stifle the home threat in that area and create space for the flying Stewart brothers to exploit out wide.
Workman got the scoring underway in the 7th minute with a try between the posts after a powerful line break through the centre by Milner.
Fin Stewart got Field’s second try at the end of the first quarter, the wingman having been put in by his brother Kian entering the line from full-back. Milner converted both.
Blaydon hit back after each. Firstly with a try by centre Ethan Clarke and an equalising conversion by scrum-half John Clarkson and then by a try by winger Andrew Gray which went unconverted.
On the stroke of half-time prop Laurence Sanderson powered over between the posts from close range for a third try for Field on the back of a fine driving maul. Milner converted with ease to leave the score at the break 21-12 to the visitors.
Fin Stewart extended Huddersfield’s lead with his second try 15 minutes into the second period, the wingman once again demonstrating his pace down the touchline after receiving another great feed from his brother. Milner once again added the extras.
Having secured the try scoring bonus point and established a 16-point lead Field were looking comfortable going into the final quarter but in keeping with the game pattern established in the first three Blaydon responded tit for tat.
Within the space of five minutes Clarke and Gray notched their second tries and Clarkson hit the mark with a second successful conversion to reduce the gap to just four points and set up a nail-biting finish.
A successful penalty kick by Milner from 40 metres out went some way to easing the tension but the game remained in the balance until the final whistle.
It ended with Field ripping possession from a home side on the front foot and Milner kicking the ball off the pitch to secure the spoils.
Head coach Danny Brough’s son William made his debut in the match for Field. The young wingman faired well and showed a deft touch with his left foot and a promise of much more to come.
The coach himself, whilst pleased with the result, said that his team’s performance “wasn’t great.”
He will be hoping for better when Huddersfield host near neighbours Cleckheaton at Lockwood Park in their next league fixture on Saturday (October 19).
Huddersfield: Stewart K, Brough W; Workman; Barber, Stewart F, Milner, Walker, Thompson, Moore, Sanderson, Lloyd, Hammond, Parfitt, Entressengle, Christian. Replacements: Myers, Haywood, Patterson.
Image: RAY MORRIS
