Bullock’s hat trick in defeat

both from well out, by Aley maintained the points advantage for his team.

Another excellent line break by Bradley led to the try-scoring bonus point, Huddersfield full back Lewis Workman rounding off the good work near the right hand touchline.

Hinchliffe’s excellent conversion made the score level on 66 minutes.

Moments later some careless indiscipline by Field offered Aley a penalty chance on the 10m line which he knocked over with ease for South to re-gain the lead.

Another fine spell by Huddersfield led to their fifth try of the game and put them in front with 10 minutes remaining.

Once again it was their big forwards who created the chance, driving the short channels and working the ball through several phases.

A neat sleight of hand by Danny Grainger gave Sam Nunn the opportunity to finish the play with a try under the posts.

Their lead lasted just two minutes, however, as the impeccable Aley landed his fourth long-range penalty.

Another inch-perfect cross-field punt by Aley in injury time then produced the final try of the match.

The fly half picked up behind a solid South Leicester scrummage on the Huddersfield 22 and his kick landed straight down the throat of Cave for a simple score.

A penalty in stoppage time gave Huddersfield a chance to reduce the deficit to five points and secure a losing bonus point, but Hinchliffe pulled his kick just wide of the posts.

Attention now turns to the first home match of the season against Hinckley, when the club are hoping for a big crowd down at Lockwood Park. HUDDERSFIELD YMCA made an encouraging North I East start against promotion favourites West Hartlepool, despite going down 35-24.

Four debutants for YM fitted in nicely – Tom Clough and Dom Horn in the backs and Josh Crickmay and Ed Black in the pack – and, when they have all their players available, they look capable of being very competitive in the division.

YM matched their much-fancied opponents try for try in a fast open game of eight tries.

In the end it was the goal kicking of home centre Gavin Painter with 15 points, three conversions and three penalties, that tipped the balance in Wests favour.

The game opened at a cracking pace and it was all YM pressure testing the home defence.

Such was the YM dominance that Wests gave away a succession of penalties which the YM chose to kick for territory rather than kick for goal, a decision that could and did cost them at the final whistle.

Eventually, on 12 minutes, the pressure did tell and YM opened the scoring with Morton touching down in the corner after good work by Clough and Piper, who failed with the conversion.

On 17 minutes, YM increased their lead when, in an effort to bring their dangerous backs into play, Wests spilled the ball on halfway only for the alert Tom Bullock to scoop up the ball and race in under the posts, the first try of his hat trick. Piper converted for 12-0.

Wests were quick to respond as from the restart YM gave away a penalty which Wests kicked to the corner. From good work, Rollins scored near the posts and Painter converted, before slotting a penalty.

Wests were now on top with their dangerous centres, Youll and Painter, causing YM all sorts of problems, but it was a YM mistake on half way that allowed Butcher to race in under the posts. Painter added the extras to give the home team the lead for the first time in the game (17–12).

Although on the back foot YM were also threatening, but they were hit when Key rumbled over to make it 22-12.

Direct form the restart YM put pressure on the home stand off who spilled the ball and, once again, Bullock went under the posts and Piper added the extras.

But Painter settled the home-team nerves with a penalty to make it 25-19 at half time.

A piece of quick thinking by the home team led to a decisive score early in the second half – hooker Rollins spotting the unmarked Butcher lurking on the 15m line, from where a quick throw enabled him to stroll under the posts. Painter provided a 13-point cushion at 32–19.

YM struck back through Bullock, who showed great pace to score, before Piper converted.

As the game went into the last 20 minutes the pace, understandably, slackened and the only further score was a Painter penalty which gave the home team a 35–24 win.

A good competitive game played in excellent conditions where every mistake from either side was punished to the maximum.

YM: Fletcher, Morton, Clough, Bullock, Horn, Piper, Bradley, Dyke, Hill, Crickmay, Black, Housley, Tindall, Hodge, Lumb. Subs (all used) Scholes H, Watson, Bell.