Huddersfield 24 Preston Grasshoppers 9 (From Preston and Leyland Citizen)

Huddersfield 24 Preston Grasshoppers 9

9:31am Monday 17th November 2008

• Print
• Email
• Share
• Comments(0)

Hoppers suffered their fifth away loss of the season in this scrappy game, this time even failing to notch a losing bonus point.

They failed to break down a determined defence and made far too many handling errors in, admittedly, greasy conditions, while early control up front was lost due to injuries and a reshuffled pack.

Marcus Jackson put Hoppers ahead with a third minute penalty but a lost lineout seven minutes later led to a home try in the corner.

Jackson hit back with his second penalty but an apparent overlap was then squandered due to a poor final pass.

Home fly half Johnson kicked a penalty after 29 minutes and only a knock on by the home wing prevented a try from his shrewd cross kick while Huddersfield’s solid centres tested the away defence.

But Hoppers were forced into infringing and Johnson kicked two more penalties and, when they did attack, another poor pass stopped a promising move to leave them 14-6 adrift at the break.

Hopes were raised at the restart when a yellow card reduced the home side to 14 men and Jackson reduced the arrears to just five points.

But Hoppers failed to exploit their advantage as more spilled ball and indifferent passing spoiled possession and in the 62nd minute Johnson’s penalty extended the home lead.

Hoppers hit back with a kick and chase from Tom Hughes but failed to finish off another clear chance when the ball was spread wide.

As the game drew to a close, yet another dropped ball on halfway was hacked through and home replacement Hinchcliffe won the chase to touch down and Johnson capped a fine performance by converting from the touchline.

Hopper take a rest from league action next week, when they host Newark who play in Midlands Two East, two levels below, in the second round of the EDF National Trophy.

• Print
• Email
• Share
• Comments(0)