The youth side, who host Manchester in the last eight at Grappenhall Sports Club on Sunday after finishing top of their group, won 25-14 at Huddersfield at the weekend.
They led 20-0 at the break but never kicked on.
“It’s great that their hard work in attack is paying off, especially in the set piece,” said Shephard.
“Our defence started well but the lads went into cruise control in the second half and had to rediscover their intensity to stop a late onslaught.
“So in summary, good, but we’ll need to defend better than that in Sunday’s quarter final.”
A scrum allowed the backs to execute a set-piece play with Ty Swinton going over in the corner for the opening try.
Swinton turned provider, catching a kick before sprinting away from cover to put Paddy Shephard over.
The forwards then put their set-piece play into action with Archie Turriff looping to send captain, McKenzie Morris, on a barnstorming run to score.
Then Huddersfield put some pressure on the visitors with a relentless attack from the ruck before Harry Bethall-Wallkington was able to jackal the ball, steal it back, and Fin Hill’s quick thinking led to Swinton beating two players on a 75-yard sprint to the line.
Huddersfield re-galvanised and hit back after the break with two tries before Freddie Hartill stepped through several defenders to put Sam Laird over in the corner and take the contest beyond reach.
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