Success in Huddersfield

Game 1 - Morley 5 - 0 Huddersfield YMCA

After the Armistice Day 2 minute silence the boys put together their strongest team performances of the season so far, with every one of them putting in a big shift throughout the 2 games today. The forwards won the vast majority of their scrums, rucking well with plenty of turnovers. The two half backs consistently moved the ball quickly from the breakdown, and the centres/wings put some strong direct runs in as the narrow pitch restricted their amount of passing options.

Jack Gilmartin opened the scoring early with a great solo try using his size to burst through 3 or 4 tackles. Owen Newsome took a couple of excellent runs with the ball before scoring with a long weaving jaunt from his own half. The third try came just before half time from Nathan Boote, who spectacularly dived over the line after some intelligent interplay with half back partner Ethan Robertson. Ethan was first to each breakdown all day and made a lot of clever decisions to open up play for the backs to stretch their legs.

YMCA brought on their half time subs and put a stronger pack together to try and challenge the early dominance in the scrum of props Jack G and Joe Stead. James Binney restarted the scoring with a confident surging run after some great turnover work in the ruck from Archie Horsfield, and Joe Frain continued where he had started off last week with another great try from his positive and forceful running.

Game 2 - Morley 4 - 2 Huddersfield RUFC

Huddersfield RUFC provided a sterner test with some strong ball carrying and a more competitive forward line. Archie and Will Kinder continued to contest the ruck effectively, which resulted in a well deserved try for Archie. Huddersfield equalised from a rare unchallenged solo effort, before Nathan capped an excellent performance with another try to add to his series of firm tackles and clever offloads.

This game was Lui Shivtiel's debut for the club, and the fast powerful ball carrying and brave tackling we have seen so far in training was very effective in the game - well done Lui, welcome to Morley! Ben Armitage scored a try from close range after which the team closed ranks to defend well, keep the ball and close the game out to win.

All in all, a great team effort across the 2 games with everybody staying involved throughout their time on the field, and playing for each other.