Long wait for victory is over as Huddersfield secure timely lift

HUDDERSFIELD secured their first win of the season, a 26-21 home success against Hull – a result which lifted the West Yorkshire club off the foot of the league table.

Dan Hyde’s men gained maximum points, scoring four tries, but they had to work hard for the victory after facing a 21-point deficit after just 24 minutes.

Hull ran in three converted tries in that spell and it wasn’t until the half-hour mark that Huddersfield began to show any signs of recovery.

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A penalty started the fight-back before Ben Mitchell, playing on the wing instead of his customary centre role, scored out wide to make it 21-8 at half-time. The forwards began to fire, led by the accuracy of hooker Niall Murphy, and just minutes into the second half a series of phases allowed Mitchell to get away for his second.

Ruck speed produced a gap for full-back Tom Owen to use his strength and score in the corner to leave just three points between the teams. Seven minutes later, prop Tony Stringwell scored Huddersfield’s fourth try to grab the lead.

In the dying minutes scrum-half Chris Duffy landed a penalty to seal a well-deserved win. Huddersfield’s next task is at Stockport, who have replaced them at the foot of the table.

n Sheffield Tigers ran the unbeaten leaders Stourbrudge very close, but eventually lost out 22-20.

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Dan Harper gave Stourbridge the lead nine minutes in, the 
No 8 going over for the first try of the game.

But Tigers took the lead five minutes later as Alex Drage crashed over and Tom Outram was able to kick a simple conversion.

On 30 minutes, full-back James Hearn gave Stourbridge their second try but, as with the first, they couldn’t convert, leaving the door open for the Sheffield side to come back.

And come back they did, with the boot of Outram finding the target with two penalties before the break.

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But despite a strong showing from Tigers, Stourbridge went on to score two tries to their one in the second half and made it 12 wins from 12 to stay top of the standings.

n Hull Ionians kept their promotion campaign on track with a 
31-22 win over Yorkshire rivals Otley.

Stand-off James Ferguson kicked two early penalties, and then converted a 16th-minute try from full-back Mike Bateman as the hosts went 13-0 ahead.

Ferguson added a penalty on the half hour, but Otley hit back shortly after with wing forward Jonathan Matthews touching down for prop Adam Blades to add the conversion to help narrow the deficit to just 16-10 at the half-time break.

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Ionians went further ahead on 54 minutes when No 8 Dan Hague crashed over the line.

But the try was not converted, and when flanker Daniel Temm touched down and winger James Twomey added the conversion, suddenly Otley were within striking distance with the score at 21-17.

However, winger Sam Wilson touched down a minute later for Hull Ionians.

Although replacement forward Ben Steele scored a third try for Otley, it was not enough as Ionians had the final word with Hague scoring his second try on 76 minutes.