Backs bag hatful in lively encounter
Frontrunners Leeds Tykes showed their squad depth as a highly-rotated line-up amassed a convincing yet somewhat disjointed 57 – 19 win over Huddersfield.
In this lively West Yorkshire derby, there were four scores in the opening eleven minutes. Junior Nu’u scored off the first line-out. Tries from Ben Dixon and Kit Keith followed, interrupted by Huddersfield’s penalty try after a collapsed maul.
The game hit a lull in the second quarter, before Kieran Davies, who’d added two earlier conversions, crashed over to secure the bonus point on half-time. Seremaia Bai Turagabeci added the extras.
Each side received two yellow cards in the first half, and one apiece thereafter, as tensions flared.
Leeds flew out of the traps scoring three further tries in 10 minutes. Henry Macnab rounded off the move of the game out wide, the beneficiary of great teamwork. Minutes later, Eddie Brown scored from a chip and chase, with Pete Lucock scoring five minutes later. Both scores were converted.
Jacob Mounsey and Henry Macnab scored a try each to round off an impressive backline display. The home side was weakened defensively by substitutions aplenty and conceded two late tries through Max Horsfall and Harry Whitfield on his return to The Sycamores.
Speaking pitchside after the game, captain Adam Brown said: “ We played some good stuff at times and wanted to try out a few of the new things we have been doing in training. We played more expansively, coming out of our own half, and went into the game with a slightly different game plan. Sometimes it worked, and sometimes it didn’t, but that’s the nature of these derby games.
“We are just trying to make those little improvements each week to keep the momentum going.”
Director of Rugby Pete Seabourne added: “Credit to Huddersfield for the tough battle they gave us. I thought they were unlucky not to get a try bonus point in the end. Generally, I’m pleased with our performance as we keep on building.”
Final score 57-17
(HT 26-7)
Match centre
Our scorers
Thanks to Ben Cropper for our match report.
