Huddersfield suffer late defeat

Huddersfield Giants 14-18 Wakefield Trinity

Huddersfield Giants suffered their third-straight defeat following a 18-14 defeat to Wakefield Trinity.

Despite tries from Aidan Sezer, Jordan Turner and Sam Wood, Giants were once again on the wrong end of a tight contest, thanks mainly to a brace by Trinity winger Tom Johnstone.

After being on the back foot for the majority of the early-stages, Giants eventually threatened the Wakefield line but a knock-on by Joe Wardle foiled their first venture into opposition territory.

Soon after, Kenny Edwards was on the receiving end of a Wakefield boot and the ever-present forward had to depart the field, looking in some discomfort.

Giants continued to be camped on their own tryline and it was Trinity, on the back of a ten-match losing streak, that were doing all the attacking in the first quarter.

They subsequently opened the scoring in the 18th minute through Matty Ashurst.

A nice kick by Jacob Miller deceived the Giants defence and Ashurst had the simple job of giving his side a deserved lead.

This try seemed to ignite the fire within Giants and just five minutes later, they were level.

Unsurprisingly, it was their talisman Sezer with yet another try and following a conversion by Lee Gaskell, the scoreboard read 6-6.

Giants slowly began clawing their way back into the game and they ended the half in much better form than they started it.

This was highlighted when Giants added their second of the evening five minutes before the break.

A cross-field kick from Sezer found Jake Wardle whose outrageous catch and pass found Turner in acres of space and Giants led 10-6.

Wakefield turned up the pressure however and Giants were fortunate to see their 10-6 lead remain intact at half-time.

They gained an even bigger slice of luck three minutes after half-time when a dangerous looking Wakefield attack concluded with a loose pass being thrown directly at Chris McQueen who snaffled the ball before Trinity could react.

Huddersfield almost extended their lead through a first Giants try for Brandon Moore but the video referee judged Sezer to be out of play as he batted a Gaskell kick back into the field.

They were not to be denied six minutes later however and Wood, deputising on the wing, grabbed his first of the season.

A smart pass from Sezer found Wood in space and from a standing start, Wood accelerated, knocked over defenders, and scored in the corner.

However, just minutes later, Wakefield were back in the game through Johnstone.

A mistake from Giants on halfway gave Wakefield the chance to attack and Johnstone, less spectacularly than usual, scored his first of the evening.

A successful conversion meant Giants were only very narrowly 14-12 ahead.

Momentum started to swing Wakefield’s way and it looked like the game was slipping away from Huddersfield but a perfect kick from Gaskell put Trinity on the backfoot and Giants were able to force an offside.

They couldn’t punish their opponents however and an obstruction close to the Wakefield line halted a promising looking attack.   

This looked very costly when Ben Jones-Bishop scored ten minutes from time but a favourable offside decision saved Giants blushes.

As the game entered its final stages, neither side looked certainties to win the contest and, as always with Huddersfield, nerves began to creep in that they may, once again, be on the wrong side of a close contest.

These fears were compounded when Johnstone added his second following an uncharacteristic error on his line by Wood.

Miller stripped the ball from Wood just metres from the Giants line and with five to go, Giants trailed by four points.

Wakefield’s defence stood strong however and Giants were defeated 18-14.