Giants bag record opening day win

Huddersfield Giants 42-14 Toulouse Olympique

Huddersfield Giants (16) 42

Tries: Yates, L. Senior, I. Senior, Wardle (2), McQueen, Ashall-Bott

Goals: Russell (7)

Drop-Goals:

Toulouse Olympique (10) 14

Tries: Russell, Bergal, Armitage

Goals: Hankinson

Drop-Goals:

Huddersfield Giants: Lolohea; I. Senior, Wardle, Cudjoe, L. Senior; Russell, Fages; Hill, Levi, English; McQueen, Jones, Yates 

Interchanges: Trout, Ikahihifo, Ashall-Bott, Greenwood

Toulouse Olympique: Gigot; Bergal, Armitage, Vaivai, Russell; Hankinson, Albert; Bretherton, White, Navarrete; Peyroux, Dixon; Cunningham

Interchanges: Pelissier, Sangare, Puech, Paulo

Huddersfield Giants opened the 2022 Betfred Super League with a commanding win in the South of France, beating Toulouse Olympique 42-14 at the Stade Ernest Wallon, a record breaking Super League opening day win for the Giants courtesy of a Jake Wardle double and efforts from Innes Senior, Louis Senior, Chris McQueen, Luke Yates and Olly Ashall-Bott. 

The hosts began the game with understandable momentum, and the combination of a penalty against the Giants and that momentum saw Toulouse score their maiden try in the Super League courtesy of Matty Russell at the corner post. Hankinson attempted to add the extras but pulled the conversion inside the post. 

There was an 18 minute lull before the hosts were in again. Illas Bergal outran Innes Senior after a kick from Lucas Albert to score Olympique's second try of the match. Hankinson made no mistake from the second touchline conversion and after 22 minutes, the Giants found themselves 10-0 down in the South of France. 

Huddersfield would have to wait until the 25th minute to score their opening points of the year, and those would come courtesy of Luke Yates, who scored from short-range to reduce the deficit. Olly Russell added a further two with the boot, and the Giants cut the arrears to four. 

The Giants would overturn the hosts lead in just 15 first half minutes, through twin tries from the twin wingers, Innes & Louis Senior. Innes touched down first in the corner with a well timed finish and thought he had snatched another one a few minutes later, only for the video referee to chalk it off, but it would be Louis who would score the pick of the first half tries, completing a well timed one-two with Tui Lolohea to give Huddersfield the lead after the hooter. Olly Russell hit his second of the day to extend that lead to a six-point half time lead in a half of two halves at the Stade Ernest Wallon. 

Huddersfield came out for the second half full of confidence, and they struck just seven minutes into the second stanza courtesy of Jake Wardle, who looked moments before like he was carrying a knock. Russell added his third of the night to give the Giants a 12 point lead early in the second half. 

The Claret & Gold thought they had gone in again courtesy of Sebastine Ikahihifo, but with the decision referred upstairs, Seb was denied a try on his second debut for the club, with the video referee having deemed him to have been pulled up short of the line. The Giants efficiently built momentum throughout the third quarter, notching another two points to their tally from the boot of Olly Russell, who scored his fourth of the night in the 57th minute. 

The Giants gained a commanding control of the game with back-to-back tries in the 68th and 69th minute, first from Jake Wardle who bagged his second of the game, then Chris McQueen, with both tries dutifully converted by the ever-accurate Olly Russell. With four on the clock, the Giants made absolutely sure as Olly Ashall-Bott found himself free with the line beckoning, and scored under the post before Olly Russell notched his seventh of the night.

However it would be the hosts who would have the final word on proceedings, with Guy Armitage touching down with little over sixty seconds left on the clock. It would be the Giants would would bring home the two points back to West Yorkshire, however, ahead of the Giants Home Opener against Hull KR next Saturday at the John Smith's Stadium. 

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