Last-kick agony for Huddersfield at Hull

THIS close-fought game full of incident, errors and occasionally over-zealous physicality, was decided on the last kick of the game when Huddersfield’s Chris Johnson struck a penalty into the wind 45 yards out and saw his effort hit the bar and drop the wrong side of the posts for the visitors.

Hull had troubles from before the kick-off as new recruit Dan White was injured during the warm-up and was replaced at scrum-half by his brother Matt and the side was reshuffled to take account of this enforced change.

Huddersfield played with the wind at their backs in the first half and it took only six minutes for them to register the first score as a missed tackle saw a gap open and winger Ryder raced in at the corner.

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Johnson made ammends for two earlier penalty misses with a fine touchline conversion.

Hull then mounted a series of concerted attacks but it took until the 23rd minute for off-half and captain Cameron to land a penalty which Huddersfield’s Johnson matched as half-time approached, giving the visitors an interval lead of 10-3.

The second half was just over 10 minutes old when Huddersfield struck again through Johnson’s boot as he added another three points.

Moments later, poor handling by Huddersfield when only 20 yards out gave Hull’s Cameron the chance to scoop up the loose ball and scamper over between the posts and then add the conversion.

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Huddersfield’s excellent tackling then held firm until the last five minutes at which point Hull’s well-rehearsed catch-and-drive from a lineout 10 yards out saw hooker Josh Lamping claim the try well wide of the posts.

Cameron could not convert but with Hull now ahead for the first time in the game, all that was left was the dramatic finale leaving Hull the victors.

The result leaves second-placed Huddersfield on 62 points after 18 games – 12 points adrift of leaders Loughborough Students.

Hull’s eighth win of the campaign has left them the second best Yorkshire club in the division. They are ninth out of the 16 clubs, with 45 points, four ahead of Sheffield Tigers. Ionians are bottom on 21.