Field finally facing Tyne in scrap at foot of table
DRAMATIC FINALE LOOKS SET TO GO DOWN TO WIRE
HUDDERSFIELD finally welcome Tynedale to Lockwood Park for their National II North fixture tomorrow after weather conditions previously forced the fixture to be cancelled twice.
Field were looking to preserve a 100 per cent home record on the initial fixture date, but will now instead be looking to return to winning ways after putting up a credible display in the 24-15 loss against a Hinckley side who have now won 10 games in succession.
That result saw the gap between Field and Otley shrink to five points after the team in the final relegation spot managed to gain two bonus points in a 29-32 loss to Sheffield Tigers, so this weekend’s game holds extra significance as the fellow Yorkshire outfit host another relegation rival in the form of Luctonians.
Tynedale aren’t completely safe from the drop either, a narrow 29-27 reverse against Stourbridge in their most recent game meaning they stand 10 points above Otley, albeit with a game in hand on all the teams below them.
They’ll need a couple more positive results you would feel to ensure survival and will want them sooner rather than later as the bottom half continues to head towards a nervy finale.
Caldy .......................................................... Fylde .......................................................... Hinckley ................................................... Sedgley Park ......................................... Loughborough Students .............. Stourbridge ........................................... Chester ..................................................... Hull .............................................................. Tynedale .................................................. Sheffield Tigers .................................. Wharfedale ............................................ Luctonians .............................................
However, Field know with a bonus point win they can move level on points with their opponents, and help fuel a push away from the relegation zone and the teams directly around them, with at least one side guaranteed to drop points from the Otley v Luctonians fixture.
A victory would also be even sweeter to avenge the 33-18 defeat suffered at the hands of their visitors earlier in the season, where Field rallied well from a 26-8 deficit at half-time but left themselves with too high a mountain to climb in the second half.
Head coach Gareth Lewis said: “At the third time of asking we are ready to go on Saturday.
“We’ve taken the positives from last week’s performance and understand the importance of this game for both teams.
“We want another one of those special Lockwood Park games.”
A crucial fixture as they all are at this stage of the season, a victory would be most welcome for Lewis and his men, as National II North looks to be heading towards another dramatic finale.
FIELD: 15 Tom Hodson, 14 Kian Stewart, 13 Mark Pease, 12 Will Milner, 11 Elliot Knight, 10 Charles Morgan, 9 Jack Maplesden, 1 Alex Battye, 2 Fran Entressengle, 3 Josh Crickmay, 4 Dickie Piper (C), 5 Nick Sharpe, 6 Pat Power, 7 Liam Parfitt, 8 Lewis Bradley. Replacements: 16 Reuben Pollard, 17 Ross Thornton, 18 Liam Stapley, 19 Harris Morris, 20 Cail Cookland