Johnson seals dramatic victory
THE deadly boot of Chris Johnson returned Huddersfield to winning ways after three successive defeats as they moved up to fourth in the National 2 North table – four points behind third-placed Fylde.
The fly-half slotted five penalties out of five – the final kick seven minutes into added time – to send Tynedale crashing to their first home defeat since their opening game at Corbridge back in September.
Huddersfield coach Gareth Lewis, who had to make do with a depleted squad, was delighted with the win.
“Chris’ kicking was sensational in very difficult conditions, with a wet ball and tricky wind, but that’s what he has been doing for many years,” Lewis said.
“I am particularly pleased with the result because we had 13 first team players missing for various reasons, and the lads who stepped up did superbly.
“The character the whole team showed was magnificent and I could not be more proud of them.”
The first half was a dour affair, with Tynedale failing to use the wind to gain territory and Huddersfield ensuring that 26-try wing Morgan Passman was given no space in which to work.
Apart from Wearmouth’s disallowed try, Tynedale attacks were thwarted by forward passes and knockons.
The only score of the half was Johnson’s first penalty on 34 minutes for a Tynedale scrummaging offence, and a minute into the second half, he doubled the visitors’ lead when Tynedale failed to release in the tackle.
Intelligent kicking by Johnson and scrum-half Jack Maplesden put Tynedale under pressure, but they defended well.
On 69 minutes a rare visit to the Huddersfield 22 brought a penalty to touch five metres out. From the lineout lock Graeme Dunn gathered the ball, and the forwards surged over the line, prop Liam Carmichael getting the touchdown.
Full-back Rob Parker converted to put Tynedale in front for the first time, but two more penalties in the space of three minutes were coolly slotted by Johnson to give his side a 12-7 lead.
Tynedale seemed to have snatched it when good foraging work close to the line by Wearmouth and Dunn ended with a try for scrumhalf Cam Kelemeti, and Parker’s conversion made it 14-12 deep into added time.
Referee Ben Davis found still more added on time, and with Tynedale winding down the clock by driving out of defence they were penalised 45 metres out for failing to release the ball.
Up stepped Johnson to rifle the ball home with the last kick of the match to the delight of team mates.
Tynedale director of rugby Ben Woods was rueful in defeat, especially after his side had a try ruled out in the first period because the referee was unsighted.
“Chris Wearmouth went over from a pick and go, but unfortunately for us it was not given,” Woods said. “The referee does not have the advantage of the video replay at this level.
“We should perhaps have made more of our chances in the first half when we had wind advantage. We did score two good tries against the wind, but you can’t take anything away from their kicker who did exceptionally well.”