YORK RUFC suffered their first defeat of the season in a frustrating contest at Huddersfield.

York travelled to Lockwood Park hoping to extend their winning run, only to encounter a Huddersfield side determined to rectify their slow start.

Huddersfield secured a 21-13 victory that was as frustrating to watch as perhaps it was to play in.

The late September sunshine and a firm pitch presented perfect conditions for open running rugby but tradition states you have to earn your right to use the open field and so the forward battle commenced.

Helped along by inaccurate execution, ill-discipline and poor tactical choices, neither side could get the game to flow and it quickly turned into a net sum wrestling match that characterised the game with slow ball from the breakdown making open rugby very difficult.

Huddersfield’s efforts, together with York’s mistakes, gave them the better of the territory and possession in the opening half hour.

Playing the offside line on the edge and making their presence felt on, and occasionally off, the ball, Huddersfield, more combative and aggressive in the contact area, showed more appetite for the ball which York struggled to combat.

York didn’t help their case turning over ball through unforced errors and sliding off first up tackles allowing the strong running back five and the lively Hawkyard and Kian Stewart to make ground before being eventually brought down.

With both sides struggling to get their line out working, the scrum became the competition area in the set piece.

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The Huddersfield pack proved to be a handful, particularly Sanderson, their tight head prop, and whilst York managed to control their own ball it was difficult for Atkin and Du Boulay to get the ball away cleanly.

Huddersfield gained reward for their efforts after ten minutes when the referee determined that York was offside at the ruck. Milner slotted home the easy penalty from the 22m line, 3-0 to the hosts.

The Huddersfield side playing very much at the margins gave a number of penalties away that relieved pressure on the York line.

Atkin injected some sorely needed tempo, taking the game to Huddersfield with a quick tap penalty and a hallmark jinking run earning another penalty for York in the process and Huddersfield their second yellow card for a high tackle.

York ended the half strongly but couldn’t breach the Huddersfield line, the strength of the Huddersfield defensive line was to be a standout feature of the game.

York made changes at half time with Consterdine and Goulding coming on for Scholey and Russell, Fothergill going into the second row.

Huddersfield were back to a full side again when Milner extended Huddersfield’s lead with his second penalty following an infringement by Simpson, deemed to be handling on the floor.

Huddersfield’s third yellow card was awarded to Thompson reducing Huddersfield again to 14 men.

Despite this, a chip ahead by Stewart from Huddersfield’s 10m line turned the York defence. A favourable bounce allowed him to regather and race towards the York line down the left.

Good tactical play by Rae covering across from the opposite wing enabled him somehow to bring Stewart down.

Mills, covering back, illegally prevented Huddersfield winning the ball and was yellow carded for his efforts.

A short tap penalty and drive by the Huddersfield forwards scored their first try duly converted by Milner. 13-0.

The fresh legs at half-time started to have some effect with Consterdine in particular bringing some forward momentum and restoring some stability and consistency in the line with his throwing in.

Stockton then added his power to the effort and Du Boulay was a constant volunteer for hard running. Goulding’s acceleration was also proving effective and York started to establish more position and possession in Huddersfield’s half. Shackleton kicked a penalty to open the York scoring. Another penalty by Huddersfield took the score to 16 - 3 in favour of the home side.

A magnificent take by Rae from the restart was the beginning of more concerted pressure from York who were now starting to try and play a more open style of game.

York looked much more dangerous when they could move the ball quickly but slow ball from the breakdown made this difficult, and the York back line were often playing ball from a standing start faced with an advancing defensive line that often was able to take man and ball.

York reverted to missed passes to try and move the ball quicker but this cancelled out the advantage of the overlap they had worked.

York eventually worked the ball over to Rae on the left wing who took his opportunity well, driving low and hard over the line to take the score to 16- 8.

York, now chasing the game, forced the ball too much and Barber, who arguably throughout the game had spent as much time in York’s back line as his own, intercepted and ran 60m to score.

Converted by Milner, this sealed the game for Huddersfield.

A late try for Burlingham wide on the right after a prolonged battle on the left line by the forwards, completed the scoring. 21-13.

Though a scrappy affair, the game will present plenty for the coaching team and players to think about before taking on Pontefract in the Yorkshire Cup on Friday night at Clifton Park.