Bees frustrated in stop-start derby

9:52am Sunday 9th November 2008

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Bradford & Bingley 25, Huddersfield 25

Both sides were left feeling a little empty after only drawing a derby which contained a total of 78 stoppages (21 line-outs, 31 scrums and 26 kicks).

Huddersfield could not hang on to a 22-13 lead which they gained in the 49th minute, while 12 minutes later Bradford & Bingley were ahead 25-22 but finished the match on a downward curve.

Bees backs coach Stuart Dixon, playing at full back because of a lengthy injury list, said: “It is frustrating.

“In the second half, we got two tries in quick succession and then gave two penalties away and things were difficult for the rest of the match. We didn’t lose but it was two points dropped.”

The Bees were unable to play Cook Islands sevens international Aaron Enoka because his international clearance had not come through.

Dixon said: “Steve Brimacombe did well at fly half for us, Barry Clark did well for us in the second row and the forwards in general got through loads of hard work.

“It is onwards and upwards. We are at Leicester Lions next week and we hope to have Ben Greaves and Liam Frost back from injury for the run-up to Christmas.”

Forwards coach Neil Spence set the tone for the hosts when he burst through on to the kick-off, giving his team-mates the momentum to set up hooker James Whitfield for an early try which Brimacombe converted.

His opposite number Chris Johnson landed a penalty in the 11th minute and the visitors took the lead 15 minutes later when No 8 Nick Sharpe crossed on the right.

A Brimacombe penalty put the Bees ahead for the second time in the 29th minute but Huddersfield then got the second try they were threatening, bulky centre James Mortimore coming through on the crash ball to plant the ball over the whitewash in the 34th minute, Johnson converting.

A Brimacombe penalty in first-half injury time put Bradford & Bingley only two points behind at 15-13 but Johnson’s chip and catch nine minutes after the interval and his conversion gave the visitors a bit of daylight at 22-13.

The Bees responded well, however, good work by scrum half Joe Bartlett paving the way for Phil Greaves to score in the left-hand corner.

This was followed three minutes later by a sublime try for replacement full back Dave Moore, Brimacombe’s conversion extending the lead to 25-22.

This surely was a chance for the Bees to capitalise but Huddersfield finished the stronger, Johnson missing a penalty before landing one after Moore tried to run the ball out of defence and was isolated in the tackle.

Spence was yellow carded in the 77th minute but both sides came off the pitch shaking their heads at some of the refereeing decisions.