By Richard Sykes
Huddersfield RUFC secured the Regional 1 North West title in magnificent style with a 21st consecutive bonus point win in the last match of the season at Lockwood Park.
The team produced an outstanding performance to defeat second-placed Anselmians 36-26, in a thrilling encounter.
They scored five tries, including a hat-trick by winger Kian Stewart, in a match where the result hung in the balance throughout.
Head coach Danny Brough said: “It was a pleasing performance. We started the game nervously but we defended well and kept in the arm wrestle.
“The Stewart brothers produced some great tries and, once we got our noses in front, I thought the result was never in doubt.
“They got a couple of late tries, which was disappointing, but it was only the result that mattered and it was great to get the win.”
Huddersfield showed total commitment from start to finish but their early front foot play was plagued by penalty concessions and flaws in the lineout.
So, when the opportunity to get the scoreboard ticking with a penalty in front of the posts presented itself, on 15 minutes, fly-half Will Milner took the three points.
The score settled Huddersfield and they proceeded to take their first half points tally to 24 with three tries, all converted by Milner.
Fin Stewart was the first of the brothers to cross the whitewash. Having taken possession from a penalty at the first scrummage Huddersfield tapped and ran the ball.
Some superb, close quarter passing wrong footed the defence and centre Ed Barber delivered the try scoring assist with magical sleight of hand.
Two minutes later Kian Stewart opened his account. A long kick downwind put the ball in goal behind the Anselmians line.
Huddersfield took possession from the lineout after the clearance to touch. The ball was passed from the maul to Stewart on the left wing, who showed his marker a clean pair of heels to dot down in the corner.
By the half hour Huddersfield were hitting their straps. Kian Stewart’s second try came in middle of a fine spell, which was interrupted by the Anselmians opener.
From the re-start Kian Stewart, with full-back Lewis Workman in close support, burst down the middle of the pitch.
Stewart sold an outrageous dummy to deceive the defence and cruise in for the score.
Anselmians were aided and abetted by Huddersfield for their two first half tries; scores which kept things interesting and set the scene for a tight second half.
When Huddersfield were penalised, just inside their own half, back chat cost them another 10 metres and the visitors took full advantage, driving over in the maul from close range. Fly-half Nick Baldwin landed the conversion.
Approaching half-time a rare lapse in Huddersfield’s defence allowed a right wing break. The ball was worked through four phases before being touched down by Myles Holmes for an unconverted try to take the score to 24-12 at the break.
Playing with a strong wind at their backs, Anselmians narrowed the gap five minutes into the second half with another converted try; lock Oscar Crowe peeling out of the maul after another of their trademark drives from the lineout.
With a single score now separating the two teams Huddersfield showed great resolve and by the hour mark they had re-established a healthy lead with two more tries. Stewart’s hat-trick try came first.
After working the ball up-field in patient and determined manner, play became concentrated in the Anselmians half.
Having been held up in the maul over the line Huddersfield regained possession from a penalty at a scrum.
Ball possession was retained through several phases inside the Anselmians 22 before Milner grubbed it through for Stewart to race on to for the try.
Huddersfield dominated the scrummages throughout and when Anselmians were pressured into penalties in defence of their line the scrum option was taken.
Powering forward at each setpiece Huddersfield were rewarded with a penalty try after a third successive collapsed drive.
For a time it seemed like the home side would see the game out in their visitors territory but Anselmians mounted one final offensive thrust.
Huddersfield put in some massive hits to keep their visitors at bay but, eventually, flanker Jonathan Bonner found a chink in the armour to squeeze through for the bonus point try which Baldwin converted.
Huddersfield finished the game with 14 men after No8 Billy Hammond received a yellow card but, despite being depleted, Huddersfield allowed their visitors no further daylight and saw the game out to clinch the championship.
Huddersfield: Thompson; Moore; Sanderson; Barnard; Garrity; Stapeley; Parfitt; Hammond; Walsh; Milner; Stewart K; Barber; Widdop; Stewart F. Replacements: Thornton; Bailey; Myers.
Images by: RAY MORRIS
