Field hoping to build on recent good form
HUDDERSFIELD will be looking to continue their climb away from the National II North relegation places when they welcome fellow strugglers Preston Grasshoppers to Lockwood Park tomorrow.
A superb return of 12 points from 15 since New Year has injected some much-needed momentum into coach Gareth Lewis’s side.
A 28-17 win against bottom side Scunthorpe was unspectacular but professional from Field and they will be looking for something similar against a team they beat 29-22 earlier in the season with a last-gasp Kian Stewart try.
Josh Crickmay scored two tries at Scunthorpe, while Jack Maplesden and Lewis Workman also crossed the whitewash.
Will Milner booted four conversions, matching his four successful kicks in the win at Preston in October.
Preston, meanwhile, suffered late agony in their most recent fixture when a late Wharfedale score meant a 26-26 draw, and they will be desperate to pick up some positive results sooner rather than later as they look to drag themselves out of trouble at the wrong end of the table.
It promises to be an enthralling fixture, not least after the drama of the previous meeting, but also with what is at stake for both sides in the second half of the campaign.
Lewis said: “Momentum is a massive thing in sport and it’s strange how quickly things can change over the course of a season.
“The roller-coaster of emotions involved can be extremely challenging at times, but this is one of the major reasons we are involved in the game.
“There’s no doubt about it, the confidence is slowly coming back and all credit to the players.
“However, we must stay true to ourselves knowing that only with continued hard work and application will we begin to climb the league table.”
Three try bonuses alongside a tighter defence have helped Field on their positive start to 2020, and another big effort from regular contributors
D L F A Pts 0 0 718 217 86 1 4 573 336 73 0 4 506 380 69 0 8 572 451 58 0 8 436 399 57 0 8 429 429 52 0 11 481 465 50 1 9 406 465 46 2 9 348 367 44 2 10 432 479 44 3 8 367 438 43 2 10 419 442 41 in recent weeks will give them a good chance of making it four from four.
Preston won’t make it easy for them, though, having conceded only 18 points in their two trips away from home since the start of the new decade.
But a win for Field could move them as high as ninth, depending on results elsewhere, whereas Preston could move within six points of safety if they win and scores go their way.