By Richard Sykes
Huddersfield RUFC are aiming to snap a run of 10 successive defeats in their first league game of 2024.
Field take on Billingham in a re-arranged fixture at Lockwood Park on Saturday January 6 (2.00).
Billingham, champions of Regional 1 North East, have made a good start to their first season in the fourth tier of English rugby, winning four of their first six games. However, a home draw against struggling Lymm is the best result they can boast in their last six games giving Huddersfield real hope.
Despite being bottom of the table Field director of rugby Neil Ryan remains in positive mood and said: “Tomorrow’s game is crucial.
“There is a lot still to play for and the lads are looking forward to the challenge of what 2024 brings, starting with Billingham. We need to be dominant in attack and defence and make it difficult for the opposition.”
Huddersfield hosted Lymm in their pre-Christmas game and expectations on the day were high. Lymm are the only team that Field have beaten so far this season.
After an hour’s play tries by Max Horsfall, Ethan Myers, Lewis Quinn and Billy Hammond had secured the bonus point and the team was pressing hard for a match clinching score. However, a moment of carelessness gifted possession to the visitors who made their hosts pay dearly.
Lymm notched a converted try to retake the lead and a late penalty to seal the win and rob Field of a losing bonus point.
Ryan expressed his frustration about the defeat but feels that lessons can be learned. He said: “We were in the contest until the end and for long periods we were the better team but we gave away too many penalties and that relieved the pressure we were building.
“It was good to get the try scoring bonus point, even though the attack wasn’t firing in the way I would like. We just need to keep our discipline and start picking up points to reduce the gap on the teams above us.”
There are injury doubts about full-back Fin Stewart and skipper Ed Barber but otherwise Huddersfield have a full squad available for selection.
Huddersfield (from): Stewart F; Horsfall; Harrison; Workman; Barber; Potter; Walker; Wilson; Rollins; Myers; Thompson; Whitfield; Moore; Dawson; Quinn; Hammond; Davis; Pearson; Barnard; Parfitt; Entressengle; Haywood; Neilly.
