Success at

HUDDERSFIELD RUFC stormed to their 14th consecutive league win and progressed to the next round of the Yorkshire Cup with a controlled 41-15 victory over Doncaster Phoenix.

Elliot Hodgson’s hat trick, along with two tries from Lewis Workman and another 100 per cent record from the boot of Chris Bell helped the Field take maximum points at Castle Park.

It was a comfortable assignment for coach Gareth Lewis’s side in a match which doubled as a league and cup fixture.

The Field showed they was a class above as their forwards were stronger at the scrummage and the backs smarter attacking wise – and Doncaster’s youthful outfit were put to their seventh loss in a row.

“I’m really pleased of how we managed the game,” said Lewis.

“They were a little bit depleted by all accounts, but our phase play was really good and our defence was strong.

“As the game progressed, I thought we got a bit loose. I also thought the referee policed the breakdown quite poorly.

“He could have given one or two more yellow cards. But overall I thought we defended well, so it’s happy days.”

Not for the first time this season, Huddersfield weathered their opponents’ early storm as Doncaster started on top, but as soon as they turned over possession they forced a penalty which Bell knocked over (3-0).

Doncaster responded well, and from the restart Huddersfield knocked on and were penalised for offside. Jay Robinson levelled proceedings (3-3).

Finally getting into their attacking mode, a big break from November’s Player of the Month Tom Owen led to Doncaster’s James Wright being sin-binned, and the Field took full advantage of the extra man by scoring two converted tries with his absence.

After Bell’s penalty regained the lead, Nick Rhodes did well to recover possession after an original breakdown and good hands from the back line worked the ball out to Workman, who decided to go over on his own with men either side (13-3).

And it was Rhodes again who charged down Doncaster on the next break and a perfectly-timed offload from Owen left Hodgson with time and space to hit the whitewash (20-3).

Firmly on top, a smart grubber kick from Bell met Workman who made no mistake to get his second try of the day (27-3).

But it was Doncaster who had the last say of the half when, with slight suspicions of crossing, Wright went under the sticks for an easy converted try (27-10 to Field).