Giants pipped by Robins in last preseason friendly

By Bailey Russell

A breezy January Sunday in East Hull was the location for the Giants third and final Pre season match up of 2022 as the Giants faced fellow Super league side, Hull KR.

The Giants were challenged by the Robins early, with the home side claiming their own kick off to gain valuable early territory. 

This set the stage for how most of the first half would play out, the Giants struggling to gain a foothold offensively as the Robins piled on the pressure.

It took smart positional play from Tui Lolohea to clean up and intercept the ball from the home side, off the back of Matt Parcell’s break and off load to big front rower, Albert Vete.

Off the back of this strong defence it would be the Giants who came closest to crossing for the first score, however Lolohea’s pass was adjudged to go forward by the referee as Golding looked to streak away having left the KR winger behind.

From the resulting scrum, a smart 4th tackle kick by the KR Captain, Shaun Kenny-Dowell forced a goal line dropout, the resulting set wielding a further penalty leading to the aforementioned big front Rower Albert Vete being held up over the line by strong goal line defence from the Giants.

A bit of fortune was the undoing for the under the pump Giants and their valiant goal line defence. Will Dagger’s grubbed pin-balled about in the in-goal area, leading to Ryan Hall diving on the loose ball. Abdull kicking the conversion for 6-0.

Having been under the cosh for much of the opening period, The Giants had only been afforded the ability to show glimpses of their undoubted quality. Grit and determination shown in “get-out” sets by the backs with strong runs from the Senior brothers, finished off with a strong kick gaining valuable territory from Lolohea.

It would take another near miss from the home side to kick the Giants into gear. With The Giants finding themselves on half way, Lolohea dropping off Great Britain international Josh Jones who proceeded to bump off would be defenders, offloading to the electric Olly Ashall-Bott who beat Will Dagger to Score. Lolohea converting for 6 all.

The try spurred the Giants into life and they would’ve pinned Rovers if not for Will Dagger breaking and taking the home side 60 metres back up the field.

A pass knocked down by the Giants resulted in a try in the corner from former Giant Sam Wood off of a set scrum play move. Abdull converting. 12-6 to the home side.

Nothing was going the Giants way with Seb Ikahihifo giving away a penalty with ball in hand for a shove on Takairangi, vital possession squandered again by the Giants. Which in the end proved costly, Abdull hitting Linnett on a short line to crash over. Abdull converted from out wide for 18-6 with half time coming none too soon for the beleaguered Giants.

The second half started in similar fashion to the first, however in favour of the Giants as they were awarded an early penalty. This, marching them up field led to some lovely hands from the Claret and Golds, forcing a goal drop out. However, a poor ball from Lolohea resulted in the Giants being unable to capitalise.

The home side however did capitalise, going up the field off of the resulting set. Jordan Abdull hit Kane Linnett on an identical line to the last KR try to make the score 24-6 with Abdull kicking his 4th goal.

The first real period of pressure in the Rovers half resulted in a try for Mercurial half back Tui Lolohea, stepping through a staggered line, beating Will Dagger to score under the posts before converting his own try for 24-12

This try spurred Huddersfield on, with Olly Ashall bott breaking and earning valuable field position from the restart, however Lolohea coughed the ball up on the 5th before any further pressure could be added.

George Roby was a highlight for the Giants from entering the field. He was ever a live-wire from coming on at Dummy half with the Giants' attack, quicker and more fluid as a result.

It was his break in the 77th minute which laid the platform for the visitors to score a well worked try in the corner, finished off by Innes senior. Lolohea maintained his 100% record with the boot, making it 24-18.