LUCTONIANS moved out of the bottom three of the National Two North after withstanding a late barrage against relegation rivals Huddersfield.

Ryan Watkins' side opened the scoring after three minutes through a John Morris penalty.

A tense game, with both sides fighting at the bottom end, took until the 19th minute to open up.

Following several phases of play the ball was played along the line for Drew Cheshire to fly over the whitewash.

Huddersfield replied with the last kick of the half with Will Milner kicking a penalty to bring them back to 8-3 at the break.

The visitors showed they were up for the battle and Josh Crickmay drove over their opening try to take a 10-8 lead.

However, the winning Luctonians points came from a scrum five metres out with Aiden Cheshire finding a gap and Morris converting.

Huddersfield threw everything at their hosts in the final 10 minutes but came up short and were beaten.

"It was very tight and a well deserved win today," said Watkins.

"I think the effort the boys put in particularly at the end of the game was outstanding so it was a deserved win.

"We knew it was going to be tough and I was probably a little bit disappointed in the first half that we didn't put more points on the board.

"There was a couple of opportunities we probably should have taken to make the game easier.

"But then we dug in deep in that second half and to get another score on the board was just fantastic from the boys.

"Our attack was better in the second half but there was a few chances in the first half to get on the board and maybe that could have been a bonus point win today.

Watkins praised the defensive display of his side in the dying moments which sealed the points for his side.

He added: "It was about eight minutes there of defence on the line.

"To put that sort of effort in and to get the win out of it the boys just deserve all the plaudits they get this week."

The victory moved Luctonians out of the bottom three and above Huddersfield.

They head to local rivals Stourbridge this weekend.

Watkins added: "I think now with the sort of points we have got on the board at this time of year this is big for us.

"If you look two years ago we wouldn't have had 29 points on the board until maybe the end of January or February time.

"I think it gives us a real springboard to start the New Year. We've obviously still got another game away from home.

"Having this home win behind us definitely eases the pressure next week.

"It's going to be a local derby and we're going to want to go there and win.

"But I do feel having a win behind us is going to do our confidence a load of good."