By Richard Sykes
Huddersfield RUFC produced a determined second half display to come from behind and secure a 27-7 victory over Doncaster Knights in the Under-16 Yorkshire Cup final at Brantingham Park.
A brace of tries by prop Myles Lyster, plus others by skipper Kobyn Lloyd-Lumley, Jacob Story and Jake Lynch sealed victory and rounded off an excellent season for Huddersfield’s young talents.
The team’s head coach Steve Lynch said: “The entire coaching team have feelings of pride, respect and awe. We knew we were in for a proper game of rugby against a very good Doncaster side.
“The lads have grafted extremely hard to get to this position and to put together that kind of game in a cup final is a reflection of their dedication and a desire to play for each other. We are genuinely humbled to have been part of such an amazing journey.”
Huddersfield started the match brightly but having survived the early pressure it was the Knights who opened the scoring in a keenly contested first half.
Fly-half Miles Hobson crafted an inch perfect crossfield kick which was taken on the right wing by Miles Dodsworth and fed inside to Jonah Tuzemskyi who raced in for the opening try which Hobson converted.
Five minutes later Knights were penalised after a nifty inside break by Lynch with Marcus O’Donnell in powerful support. Field chose to take a quick tap and Lyster drove over for the first of his tries. Field finished the half as strongly as they started it but the score remained 5-7 at the interval.
After the break Field were quickly into their stride and took the lead with two tries in quick succession. The first, by Lloyd-Lumley, came from a pick and go from behind a scrum close the the Knights line.
The big No8 then took a great catch from the re-start and play was taken back to the Knights’ 22 with a fine kick upfield. Pinned down close to their line Knights conceded a lineout and Lyster dotted down from the catch and drive.
To their credit Knights continued to show enterprise but their attempts to gain forward momentum were thwarted by some great tackling and ferocious work at the breakdown by Field. Frustrated by being unable to make ground Hobson attempted a long range kick at goal from a penalty but his effort fell short.
Field’s fourth try came from another lineout move. Lloyd-Lumley shifted the point of defence with a snipe up the blind side and when the ball was moved back inside flanker Jacob Storey crashed through to score.
The final try came after a great individual 25-metre break by centre Amos Stancliffe. The ball went through the hands to Lynch on the right wing. He cruised round the Knights’ defensive line, touching down close to the posts. Full-back Thomas Scott completed the scoring with the conversion.
Kobyn Lloyd-Lumley and George Brown now have a hat-trick of cup wins under their belt. As well as lifting the Yorkshire RU Cup they were also part of the Dewsbury Celtic BARLA Cup-winning team and the Rodillian Academy Yorkshire Schools RU cup winning team. Well done lads!
