Rovers slipped to a narrow 1-0 defeat at the Galpharm Stadium on Wednesday evening in an entertaining encounter.
The only goal of the game was worthy of the entrance fee as Huddersfield new boy Joey Gudjonsson's 17th minute 20-yard volley proved to be the difference between the two sides.
Whilst Huddersfield Town boss Lee Clark named what many believed to be his starting eleven come the season opener, Rovers' squad had a decidedly youthful look to it due to the match being their second in 24 hours after Tuesday's Deepdale encounter against Preston North End.
As has been the way this pre-season Rovers again lined up 3-5-2, Grant Hanley, fresh from signing a new five-year deal with the club, was partnered at the back by Zurab Khizanishvili and Gavin Gunning. Five strung across the middle saw Jackson Ramm, Josh Morris and Amine Linganzi joined by captain El-Hadji Diouf and trialist Andranik Teymourian. Up front Nick Blackman partnered Maceo Rigters.
The home side started the brighter but it was Rovers with the first effort at goal nine minutes in. Amine Linganzi advancing before playing in Teymourian but his drilled effort flashed just wide of the upright.
The Terriers starting eleven featured five debutants and it was one of those who gave the home side a stunning 17th minute lead.
The referee had done well to allow play to continue after Teymourian had pulled the shirt of his marker, and although Jackson Ramm had done well to clear the centre, there was nothing any Rovers player could do when the ball bounced up perfectly for former Burnley midfielder Joey Gudjonsson who struck a sweet 20 yard volley into the top corner of the goal.
El-Hadji Diouf was at the heart of everything that was good about Rovers' attacking play, the former Senegal international threatened on the edge of the area before unleashing a fearsome shot that the captain on the opposite side, Peter Clarke, did brilliantly to block bravely with his head.
Diouf then turned provider when he passed on a Ramm centre onto Linganzi but his effort flew narrowly over the crossbar.
Jason Brown replaced Mark Bunn at the start of the second half, but there was little in the way of goalmouth action until the 52nd minute. A missed challenge from Zurab Khizanishvili allowed Theo Robinson to break away, Jason Brown rushed out close down the angle, but whilst the Huddersfield attacker rounded Brown his effort at goal was well off target.
Former Rover Joe Garner came on for the home side just past the hour mark. The former Academy graduate had joined the Terriers on a six-month loan deal from Nottingham Forest earlier in the day.
Rovers made further changes themselves with youngsters Rodrigo Branco, Michael Potts, Zac Aley and Matthew Pearson all being introduced as they ended the game the stronger of the two sides.
Diouf side-footed wide when well placed to latch onto a Josh Morris cross, then he turned provider with a centre from the right that Grant Hanley couldn't connect with cleanly.
Zac Aley then impressed, first with a dangerous ball in from the left that had to be headed over his own bar by Peter Clarke. Then the former Southport youngster turned well and lashed a left-footed strike that flew a yard over.
Most of the Rovers side that finished the match will be involved in a Reserve friendly at Rhyl at the weekend, whilst the likes of Brown, Linganzi, Diouf and Teymourian will be heading further afield to Australia for Rovers' pre-season tour.
HUDDERSFIELD: Smithies, Peltier, Naysmith, Gudjohnsson, P. Clarke, McCombe, Roberts (sub Carey 73 mins), Arfield, Robinson, Rhodes (sub Garner 61 mins), Pilkington (sub Croft 83 mins).
Subs not used: Bennett (GK), Kay, Goodwin, N. Clarke, Simpson, Ainsworth, Ridehalgh, Chippendale, Atkinson.
ROVERS: Bunn (Brown 46 mins); Khizanishvili (sub Pearson 75 mins), Hanley, Gunning; Ramm, Diouf, Linganzi (sub Potts 70 mins), Teymourian, Morris; Blackman (sub Aley 70 mins), Rigters (sub Branco 58 mins).
Subs not used: Marrow.
Attendance: 6,651
