1 Jul 2021

Injury hit Giants beaten by Dragons

Huddersfield Giants 12-50 Catalans Dragons

Huddersfield Giants (0) 12

Tries: Golding, Wardle

Goals: Russell (2)

Drop-Goals:

Catalans Dragons (20) 50

Tries: Jullien, McMeeken, Langi, Garcia, Batieri, Tomkins, Maloney, Davies

Goals: Maloney (9)

Drop-Goals:

Sin-Bin: Batieri, Drinkwater, Dudson

Huddersfield Giants: Ashall-Bott; Cudjoe, Leutele, Wardle, McGillvary; Wood, Russell; Gavet, Golding, Yates; Jones, Edwards; Trout

Interchanges: Greenwood, Hewitt, Pryce, Ashworth

Catalans Dragons: Tomkins; Davies, Langi, Whare, Yaha; Maloney, Drinkwater; Dudson, Garcia, Bousquet; Jullien, McMeeken, Goudemand

Interchanges: Mourgue, Whitley, Batieri, Kasiano

An injury-hit Huddersfield Giants suffered another defeat in the Betfred Super League, beaten 50-12 by Catalans Dragons at the John Smith's Stadium. 

The Giants were once again without a host of first-team regulars, with Aidan Sezer and Lee Gaskell the major absences from the squad. This gave the opportunity for Oliver Russell and Sam Wood to partner in the halves, with Will Pryce, son of Great Britain international Leon, making his debut for the Giants first team after a successful stint in the Academy. 

Both sides spent the early moments testing the opposition defence, with a series of physical battles throughout the middle corridor of the pitch. The visitors broke the deadlock courtesy of a James Maloney penalty, struck from 9m out. They would extend their lead a few minutes later, courtesy of Benjamin Jullien, converted by Maloney for his second of the day. 

Mike McMeeken would extend their lead with 10 left on the clock in the first half, with Maloney once again nailing the conversion, extending the table-toppers lead to 14. With just 3 left on the clock at the end of the first half, that lead would become 20, as Samisoni Langi crossed over with James Maloney kicking his 4th of the day from a few metres off the touchline, and the Dragons would go into the sheds with the scores 0-20.

The Giants began the half promisingly and gained a man advantage after Jason Baitieri was given ten in the cooler, and Huddersfield took full advantage when Jake Wardle found a gap and released Ashton Golding for his first try of 2021. Russell added the extras and the Giants reduced the arrears to 14. 

It wouldn't take long for the visitors to reply however as Catalans scored on the following set to re-establish their lead, with Maloney converting again. They scored again soon after, this time courtesy of Jason Batieri, and hit again a few minutes later with Sam Tomkins getting on the scoresheet this time, Maloney maintaining his perfect record with the boot. Maloney would cross over himself with 18 left on the clock, and converted his own try minutes later.

Will Pryce would make his debut for the Giants with 17 left on the clock, and provided fizz and verve to the Giants attack which paid dividends with 10 left to play, as Pryce found Jake Wardle, who crossed over for the Giants second of the game. Russell added the extras to make the scores 12-44. 

Huddersfield would get another boost a few minutes later as Josh Drinkwater was sin-binned after a kerfuffle which dragged in players or both sides. Dudson went for an early bath a few minutes later for a high tackle. The League Leaders would have the final say on the game, however, courtesy of a flying Tom Davies finish, converted by Maloney to seal his 100% record on the night. 

The Giants will now face off against Challenge Cup finalists Castleford on Tuesday Night, and will look to register a win despite the ongoing injury issues affecting the squad. 

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