Field ‘shot themselves in foot’ in first league defeat
HUDDERSFIELD SEDGLEY PARK 10 27
to suggest which way the result would go, with the warm weather contributing to a stop-start affair during the first 30 minutes in which a Will Milner penalty was the only contribution to put points on the scoreboard.
Water breaks due to the heat and an injury to Field prop Loz Sanderson added to the slow tempo, although Sedgley did convert a penalty of their own through Steve Collins to level the scores up in the latter stages of the first half.
That would’ve been a fair reflection of a tight opening 40 minutes but, with time ticking away, Sedgley worked the ball deep into Huddersfield territory.
Nathan Rushton burst out of the Sedgley maul by the touchline to cross the try-line with the last action of the first half.
A horrible time for the home side to concede a try, the conversion was well taken by Collins to rub salt in the Field wounds as they walked to the changing rooms for half-time.
Sedgley pressed forward and were the first to add to the scoreboard in the second half, Collins adding his second successful penalty of the afternoon. At this point it seemed as though the away side would begin to assert themselves on the contest, but it was Field who came roaring back with a well-manufactured move, which culminated in Alex Battye bullying his way past the Sedgley defence. Milner added the conversion to bring his side right back into the contest.
Sedgley, however, refused to be rattled and showed exactly why they’d won their opening two games of the season, moving the ball quickly from one side of the pitch to the other and Jack Metcalf going on an impressive darting run past multiple Field defenders before off-loading to Will Lees close to the try line leaving him with an easy try – Collins’ conversion again proving effective.
And moments before the final whistle as Field continued to search for a route back into the contest, a poor giveaway in the middle of the park left Leon Simpson with the freedom of the Lockwood Park pitch to sprint underneath the posts and add some gloss to the scoreline for the visitors.
Collins ensured his conversion rate remained 100 per cent for the game as he easily sent the ball between the
We kept the ball for long periods but were punished for our own
inaccuracies
sticks.
Head coach Gareth Lewis said after the game: “I thought the opening 20 minutes were very promising but unfortunately our indiscipline put pressure on ourselves and then we shot ourselves in the foot with some individual errors. We kept the ball for long periods in the closing stages but were punished for our own inaccuracies and some excellent Sedgley Park defending.
“This was always going to be a very tough start to the season but with hard work I know these boys can get our season up and running.”
A trip to Fylde – who are unbeaten after three matches of the National League 2 North season – awaits next for Field, in what should provide a stern test on the road for Lewis and his players.