Leaders hit double hat-trick to sink Field
■■SEDGLEY PARK 38-14 FIELD
HUDDERSFIELD were stung by two tries from hooker Sam Mallinson in the first 10 minutes at Sedgley Park Tigers.
They were hit by three more in the third quarter, with Mallinson completing his hat-trick, and another at the death. The last one rounded off a second hat-trick by winger Andrew Riley to give Tigers a comfortable 38-14 home win.
In an entertaining game Field matched their hosts for territory and possession but struggled to convert pressure into points.
Second-half tries by Ethan Myers and Rob Jennings, both of which were converted by Will Milner, offered just reward and some consolation for the visitors but it was the clinical finishing of their hosts that made the difference on the day.
After the game, Field’s director of rugby, Gaz Lewis, said: “Sedgley set off like a house on fire, winning collision and building a very effective maul but the boys dug in and stemmed the flow.
“We grew into the game and were rewarded with a couple of good scores. I was pleased with how we competed against the best team in the league.”
Mallinson’s early scores both came from catch and drives from line-outs close to the Field try line, Field having been guilty of assisting by careless loss of possession. Fly-half Stephen Collins converted the second one.
After the early set backs Field settled and took the game to Tigers. They pressured Tigers into penalty concessions with notable contributions to attack from centre Ed Barber, skipper Lewis Bradley and Number 8 Jennings.
Midway through the half Field were camped on the Tigers’ try line, with scrum-half Joe Potter coming closest to crossing. Tigers put in a massive defensive set to hold out before eventually managing to get clear when Field were penalised. The score remained 12-0 at the interval.
Field made an excellent start to the second half but having resisted, Tigers took play into Field’s territory and struck, notching three more tries in a ten-minute spell.
The first, by Riley, saw him run in at the right hand corner. Three minutes later Tigers hoisted a high kick which bounced straight into the arms of the on-rushing Riley who raced in between the posts to bag his second.
Mallinson then completed his hattrick, taking a short pass on an inside line from Riley who made an excellent individual break. Collins converted the last two.
Field eventually got on the scoreboard on 64 minutes, Myers dotting down in a maul.
Jennings’ try came 10 minutes later when he rounded off a nice passage of attacking play, cutting through from short range. Riley completed his hattrick against the late run of play. Tigers’ full-back Ollie Glasse converted.
Field next take on Tynedale away on Saturday.
■■Huddersfield: