Huddersfield look to maintain momentum
REFRESHED Huddersfield RU will be hoping having a weekend off has not halted their amazing National League III North momentum.
Coach Gareth Lewis’s men made it 22 League wins out of 22 with their 83-0 home thrashing of Stockport in their last competitive outing a fortnight ago.
Huddersfield should be far too strong for Morley when the two teams meet at Scatcherd Lane tomorrow.
But even though the Maroons have lost six of their 22 League games so far and Huddersfield strolled to a 67-3 Lockwood Park triumph over them in November last year, the fact it’s a derby encounter means nothing can be taken for granted.
Lewis, however, is looking forward to the derby duel ahead.
“The squad is refreshed after the break and fully prepared for a tough contest,” he said.
“Morley away is always a tough test and, given their league position, we expect it to be exactly that.
“They have some excellent players and I’m not quite sure how they have got themselves into a difficult situation.”
Chris Bell returns to fly-half, after missing the game against Stockport, meaning the versatile Lewis Workman, starts centre alongside Tom Owen.
Kristian Sharples, who started fullback last time out, isn’t included in the squad, meaning Danny Grainger returns to full-back.
Alex Battye returns to captain the side at prop alongside Callum Thompson.
Nick Sharpe and Elliot Knight, who both got themselves a hat-trick against Stockport keep their places in No 8 and on the wing respectively.
Ben Hoyle is also back in the side, meaning youngster Harvey Keighley-Payne returns to play for the Falcons.
Morley played Hull last weekend which was the only fixture in the league, with their opponents winning 27-19.
Despite Morley being 10th, they are just five points ahead of Firwood Waterloo in 13 th , so they will be hoping for a positive result. Chris Bell, Joel Hinchliffe; Nick Sharpe, Lewis Bradley, Ben Hoyle, Adam Malthouse, Austen Thompson, Alex Battye, Fran Entressengle, Callum Thompson. Subs: Rueben Pollard, Ben Morrill, Oliver Scrimshaw.
Meanwhile, North I East side Huddersfield YMCA have a slightly longer trip tomorrow – up to Alnwick!
Like Huddersfield, the YMCA also had a weekend off last weekend, and they’ll be hoping that’s given them players the chance to re-charge their batteries an mount a final late charge up the League table.
The Laund Hill side made it 11 from 22 starts the last time out with the 31-14 home success over Durham City.
And they’ll be looking to build on that when they make the long journey to face an Alnwick side who have been going well in fourth place.