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Sat 13 Nov 2010 · National League 2 North
Huddersfield
1st XV
16
17
Huddersfield 16 Westoe 17
Phil Haswell15 Nov 2010 - 16:26
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COMPARED with the previous Saturday’s champagne performance, this was the stuff of stale beer (writes Clive Crickmer). Admittedly, a downpour the previous day had made it heavy going underfoot but it was still difficult to credit that a Westoe side, ha
With so much possession and opportunity, it should have been a try fest. But when the crucial pass was made it was as though the ball had turned to soap - and the opportunity had literally slipped away.
The Shieldsmen spent most of the second half swarming inside their opponents’ 22 and it seemed that the floodgates must burst open.
But frustratingly it was not to be, and the only score was a 54th minute drop goal by full back Charlie Rayner which for the first time nudged his side into the narrowest of leads. And which, as it turned out, was the match winner.
Though totally dominant throughout this period, Westoe’s skins were saved only because Chris Johnson, the home team’s fly half and ace set piece kicker, missed two, albeit long range, penalty attempts.
The second, as the last few minutes ebbed away, brought high drama to windless Lockwood Park, straddled by a magnificent railway viaduct and even more atmospheric illuminated as it was by floodlights that the 3pm kick-off had necessitated.
There was a total hush as he set up the ball up a couple of metres inside the enemy half to the left of the posts and painstaking prepared for the kick that would effectively have snatched four points from the flames.
Johnson had started the game with 25 penalty conversions in the bag - more than anyone else in National 2 North - and this kick looked good until it dipped just a little too low and wide. And the travelling Wood Terrace faithful breathed again
Though Huddersfield deserve every praise for their unyielding defence, it would have been cruel had they robbed Gareth Nesbit’s men of their tenth victory in the 11 games so far, a remarkable record which keeps them in strong promotion contention.
Let us also acknowledge the continued steadfastness of Dunes Adventure Island-sponsored Westoe’s own blockade, pierced just once by a cleverly taken opportunist try in the 10th minute while the Tykes were having the better of things and a Johnson penalty had already put his side ahead with a penalty kick.
Johnson kicked a loose ball soccer-style 30 metres along the ground into the visitors’ 22, followed it up and touched down beside the posts to give himself a simple conversion kick.
The Shieldsmen now asserted themselves and a foraging attack along the left flank ended with strong and athletic number 8 Miles Scott bursting over, fly half Mark Bedworth converting.
Johnson penalties either side of a second converted Westoe try, when lock John Younghusband spotted a gap and burst through two defenders to dive over, meant the hosts were 16-14 ahead at the interval. But, as we have seen, Rayner’s kick was the clincher.
Afterwards player-coach Bedworth said: “Naturally, we were disappointed we didn’t make more of our opportunities and collect more points, but I was happy that we kept up the pressure and snuffed them out.”
The Shieldsmen spent most of the second half swarming inside their opponents’ 22 and it seemed that the floodgates must burst open.
But frustratingly it was not to be, and the only score was a 54th minute drop goal by full back Charlie Rayner which for the first time nudged his side into the narrowest of leads. And which, as it turned out, was the match winner.
Though totally dominant throughout this period, Westoe’s skins were saved only because Chris Johnson, the home team’s fly half and ace set piece kicker, missed two, albeit long range, penalty attempts.
The second, as the last few minutes ebbed away, brought high drama to windless Lockwood Park, straddled by a magnificent railway viaduct and even more atmospheric illuminated as it was by floodlights that the 3pm kick-off had necessitated.
There was a total hush as he set up the ball up a couple of metres inside the enemy half to the left of the posts and painstaking prepared for the kick that would effectively have snatched four points from the flames.
Johnson had started the game with 25 penalty conversions in the bag - more than anyone else in National 2 North - and this kick looked good until it dipped just a little too low and wide. And the travelling Wood Terrace faithful breathed again
Though Huddersfield deserve every praise for their unyielding defence, it would have been cruel had they robbed Gareth Nesbit’s men of their tenth victory in the 11 games so far, a remarkable record which keeps them in strong promotion contention.
Let us also acknowledge the continued steadfastness of Dunes Adventure Island-sponsored Westoe’s own blockade, pierced just once by a cleverly taken opportunist try in the 10th minute while the Tykes were having the better of things and a Johnson penalty had already put his side ahead with a penalty kick.
Johnson kicked a loose ball soccer-style 30 metres along the ground into the visitors’ 22, followed it up and touched down beside the posts to give himself a simple conversion kick.
The Shieldsmen now asserted themselves and a foraging attack along the left flank ended with strong and athletic number 8 Miles Scott bursting over, fly half Mark Bedworth converting.
Johnson penalties either side of a second converted Westoe try, when lock John Younghusband spotted a gap and burst through two defenders to dive over, meant the hosts were 16-14 ahead at the interval. But, as we have seen, Rayner’s kick was the clincher.
Afterwards player-coach Bedworth said: “Naturally, we were disappointed we didn’t make more of our opportunities and collect more points, but I was happy that we kept up the pressure and snuffed them out.”
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