Team for Huddersfield

By Dave Picken - October 29 2004
Team for Huddersfield
Paul Miller
There were 37 lads training under the new floodlights last night which at last gives the coaches some competion for places. Admittedly some of them were the unbeaten Under 17's - who are good enough but not yet old eneough - but it was a sight to gladden the heart of any Westie.

Missing from that lot were Tim Sawyer, who is still recovering from a shoulder injury, Tony Gamwell,recovering after a University game and Brett Cullinane and Stu Bennett who had work commitments.

Ryan Phillips wasn't there either ... but he did call in to say the sauna and pool treatment was working wonders on his bad cold.

Final selection will be made at lunchtime [meet at 1.30] but its likely that the pack will remain unchanged with Phil Wallis an excellent replacement for Martin Todd at full back. Paul Miller is now fit again and will be in the final 18.

That means the half back pairing of Darren Thomas and Davy Tighe will continue. Davy was on superb form with his goalkicking last week.

Huddersfield were without eight regulars when they beat Sandal at home last week by 34-3. They have dropped only one point so far in a 3-3 draw at Alwnick and are everyone's favourites to go back up. They will be giving a debut to Australian under 21 flanker Tom Rourke.

But with a much more solid performance from the pack, and some superb flank play from Boatman and Tones, we look to be on the road to recovery. It promises to be another interesting game albeit without last week's contribution from the crowd.

On that note the Referee is Mike Hodgson who is a regular visitor to Brinkburn and a no-nonsense and very capable official. Following last week's unfortunate occurences the West committee has decided to remind our members and supporters that the club fully backs the RFU iniatiatives on respecting officials.

Chairman Stu Murray says: "We have discussed this during the week. Nobody has accused West supporters of doing anything wrong last week, but we are aware that one or two of our supporters can get a little carried away on occasion. It's up to us all to keep them in check."

West squad: Mark Cholmondeley, Brett Cullinane, Ryan Phillips, Carl Miller, Phil Henderson, Jon Boatman, Henry Tones, Stuart Bennett, Darren Thomas, Davy Tighe, Dan Abrahams, Peter Hodgson, Tony Gamwell, Andrew Hare, Phil Wallis, Paul Miller, Paul Moss, Anth Carr, Dan Boatman.

Huddersfield: A Metcalfe, T Taylor, N Paxman, N Sommerfields, N Barlow, J Grayshon, D Clayton, D Furness,C Gough, L Chatta, R Baxter, H Pratt, B Thornton, T Rourke, M Sowerby [capt]. Reps M Murphy, N Pollock, G Hincliff