2 May 2021

Giants win nailbiting thriller

Huddersfield Giants 14-13 Leeds Rhinos

Huddersfield Giants (6) 14 

Tries: Sezer (2)

Goals: Sezer (2/3)

Drop Goals: Sezer, Gaskell  

Leeds Rhinos (4) 13

Tries: Thompson, Handley

Goals: Martin (2/2)

Drop Goals: Sutcliffe

Huddersfield Giants: Gaskell, McGillvary, McQueen, Leutele, McIntosh, Cogger, Sezer, Yates, Cunningham, Gavet, Edwards, Jones, Greenwood.

Interchanges: English, Lawrence, Wood, O'Brien.

Leeds Rhinos: Broadbent, T. Briscoe, Hurrell, Mellor, Handley, L Sutcliffe, Leeming, Oledzki, Dwyer, Prior, Walters, Thompson, O'Connor.

Interchanges: Martin, Vuniyayawa, Donaldson, L. Briscoe.

A drop goal from Lee Gaskell with less than 3 seconds remaining of the West Yorkshire Derby sealed Huddersfield Giants first win of the Betfred Super League season as the Giants overcame a late fightback from Leeds Rhinos to triumph 14-13 in a tense game at the John Smith's Stadium. 

The visitors opened the scoring courtesy of Bodene Thompson, after a well worked move by the hosts, Liam Sutcliffe pulled the conversion wide. 

Huddersfield would wait 30 minutes to get on the board themselves, despite having a try from Aidan Sezer disallowed, the Giants half-back found space after a missed tackle from James Donaldson, before adding the extras to give the Giants the lead at the half. 

It wouldn't take long for the Giants to get on the board after the start of the second half, scoring just 45 seconds after the start of the final 40 minutes, with Lee Gaskell breaking through the Rhinos defence to set up Aidan Sezer for his second try of the game. While he missed the conversion, he would add two points from the boot after an obstruction penalty on Kenny Edwards to give the Giants a 12-4 lead. 

Huddersfield would get over again courtesy of Adam O'Brien, but referee Liam Moore judged that Kenny Edwards had obstructed Kruise Leeming. The Giants would be in again a few minutes later courtesy of Luke Yates, but Liam Moore judged the Giants forward had knocked the ball on. 

The Rhinos fought their way back into the game soon after, with Liam Sutcliffe breaking through the Giants defence before offloading to Ash Handley to score in the corner. Rhyse Martin added the extras to bring the visitors within 2 points before levelling the game from 45 metres out soon after. 

Both sides attempted to get the point advantage with 15 minutes to play, with Liam Sutcliffe missing two attempts to give the Rhinos the advantage before the Giants thought they'd got a crucial four-pointer, with Josh Jones touching down. The referee had judged that Chris McQueen had knocked the ball forward and called it back. 

Aidan Sezer put his first attempt under the bar, but Liam Sutcliffe managed to edge the Rhinos ahead, but Sezer levelled the game again a minute later. Sutcliffe missed a crucial chance to restore the Rhinos lead, but while Sezer stepped up to win the game for the Giants, he passed the ball to Lee Gaskell, who slotted the winner to give the Giants the victory in the West Yorkshire Derby. 

Partners

Partner
Partner
Partner
Partner
Partner
Partner
Partner
Partner
Partner
Partner
Partner
Partner
Partner
Partner
Partner
Partner
Partner
Partner
Partner
Partner
Partner
Partner
Partner
Partner
Partner
Partner
Partner
Partner
Partner
Partner
Partner
Partner
Partner
Partner
Partner
Partner
Partner
Partner