Match Reports – 14th & 15th December 2024

Scunthorpe lost their second home game on the bounce in a titanic match with Huddersfield as the lead changed hands twice in the last twenty minutes. Scunthorpe came back strongly in the second half after a disastrous first forty minutes.

From an Ethan Taylor kick-off Huddersfield fielded the ball. As they kicked to touch one of their players was offside, so Scunthorpe were awarded a penalty. Taylor kicked to the corner and as the line out play developed a knock on saw a scrum to Huddersfield under the post. Another penalty came Scunthorpe’s way and this time they opted for the ‘Bridlington’ with Matty Mason crashing over, Ethan Taylor kicked the conversion. Huddersfield responded with a try on 9 minutes.

Scunthorpe failed to tidy up the loose ball from the kick-off. Eventually the driving maul had two or three goes but they were turned over at the ruck. Huddersfield whipped the ball along the line and speedster Stewart went over to score, conversion was successful from experienced number 10 Will Milner. 7-7.

After 13 min there was another penalty to Scunthorpe just inside the opposition 22 in front of the posts. It came from the kick-off with a knock on by Huddersfield. From the scrum play developed and this time the referee penalised the Huddersfield defender for being too slow to roll away. Ethan Taylor accepted the invitation to add to score with an easy kick. 10-7.

Milner missed an easy penalty but as the half hour mark came Huddersfield scored a couple of tries in quick succession. Scunthorpe looked to have stolen the ball, but it flopped about and Huddersfield No8 Parfitt snatched it up and dived over with fly half Milner making the conversion, 10-14.

Huddersfield’s next try came Scunthorpe had the line out on the 10 m line inside Huddersfield half, but the defence nicked the ball and attacked down the left on side with oodles of pace on the left-wing they fed back inside for centre Barber to score a good try, Milner converted, and things were looking ominous at 10-21.

The next try came for a fantastic individual effort from James Dyson. The ball was stolen from Huddersfield and James raced 60m unopposed to score under the posts, conversion by Taylor. A four-point deficit at half time would have been acceptable however the West Yorkshire outfit had other ideas and scored two tries in quick succession.

With 5 min to go Scunthorpe looked in control at the ruck situation however the aggressive play from Huddersfield turned it over and the speedy winger Stewart got his second try, which was converted. Once again, Scunthorpe appeared to be complete control of the ball and then suddenly it’s in the hands of a Huddersfield player and they’re on the counterattack. Several dubious penalties allowed Huddersfield to stay in the 22. The referee seemed to be playing excessive extra time and with an overlap on the right-hand side the speedy winger Stewart made inroads as the ball came back to prop Sanderson to score. With the conversion from Milner the second half score read 17-35.

The Green supporters were shell shocked as they had not seen anything like this for some time at fortress Heslam. It would take a gigantic effort to get something out of this game.

Head Coach Tim Robinson must have inspired the Greens because within a few minutes James Dyson scored his second try. Laurence Pearce sparked the recovery with a bursting run at the defence. Scunthorpe then pounded the Huddersfield line; they kept their patience and more importantly – the ball. It went from left to right, right to left and eventually a cheeky little break by Will Harrison saw him flick the ball up for the ever-present Dyson to scoop it up and run over to score. Ethan Taylor converted, 24-35.

Scunthorpe kept up the pressure and five minutes later a well-deserved try from work horse prop Cam Christie. It came from a penalty against Huddersfield after holding onto the ball after a good steal from Laurence Pearce. Taylor kicked to the corner and from the line out the catch and drive the players kept their patience and after three or four drives Christie strolled over collect the try. Taylor missed the extra two and Scunthorpe had clawed back 12 points to give themselves a chance. 

Unfortunately, James Dyson was given a team yellow card for dropping the maul, two minutes later the match official bamboozled everyone by sending one player from each side to the bin to leave the Greens with 13 men. Huddersfield were given their second yellow and the teams were playing 13-a-side. On the hour Josh Lugsden finished a great move down the left-hand side. Good work by Will Harrison put Josh in and raced down the wing around four or five players to score under the posts and with Ethan Taylor Scunthorpe were now one point in the lead, Scunthorpe 36 Huddersfield 35.

Joey Mowbray and Dylan Martin replaced Harrison and Beresford. It took a great team effort to get to this point however Huddersfield weren’t done. They scored from the kick-off from a kick and chase. The defence could not deal with the bouncing ball and Stewart claimed his hat trick try from the chase. 36-42.

Scunthorpe tried their hearts out to get back the advantage and in the last throws of the game they were given a penalty which Taylor kicked into the 22. Scunthorpe secured the catch and drive lineout, but Huddersfield put the drive on and stole the ball. Another penalty was awarded to Huddersfield and with clock in over time they kicked to touch to seal the victory at 36-42.

It was the two tries just before half time that killed Scunthorpe who will now have to lick their wounds as they travel to local rivals Driffield for the last game of the year before entering the Christmas break. The East Yorkshire side will certainly not be giving anything away.

Match Report written by Steve Williams

Photos from Maria Rhodes, Bill Rhodes and Paul McDonald