Ain’t no Tiger feat for Field!

HUDDERSFIELD suffered a 33-13 National 2 North defeat by Sheffield Tigers, despite a strong start.

Gaz Lewis’s men bounced back after going behind to an early Mark Ireland penalty to take the lead on 17 minutes.

Two good spells of possession, which saw the ball worked through more than 20 phases, resulted in a long pass to the right wing which found Kian Stewart in space. He neatly wrong-footed his marker and dashed in for the first try of the game. Will Milner’s conversion attempt drifted just wide.

A second penalty by Ireland on 20 minutes regained the lead for Tigers but Field hit back from the re-start. Full back Joe Potter made good yards with a lovely individual break and when he was felled by a high tackle, Milner’s penalty was straight and true.

The strong Tigers pack posed problems in the scrummage throughout and in the second quarter Field were forced onto the back foot.

A penalty on the half hour gave Tigers a good attacking lineout and hooker Louis Townsend touched down from the catch and drive. Ireland landed the difficult conversion and a third penalty on the stroke of half-time to make it 16-8 at the interval.

Straight after half-time Tigers’ increased their lead with an unconverted try by centre James Broadley. When Field failed to find touch with a penalty shortly after the re-start the Tigers’ backs returned the ball with interest, leaving their visitors defending their line once again. Field prop Lewis Smith was yellow carded for killing the ball at the breakdown.

Scrum half Jonny Mason managed to turn the tide briefly with a break out of his own half, with team-mates in good support. The ball was well retained when he was tackled but the promising move ended with a forward pass.

On 59 minutes Tigers’ cleverly switched their direction of attack with an excellent cross-field kick.

Full back Greg Mellor came into the line to take a pass from the catch and run round the defence for a try behind the posts, which Ireland converted with ease.

Tigers sealed the game with a try by Robert Davidson.