Giants fall short against St Helens

Huddersfield Giants 0

Tries:

Goals:

Drop Goals:

St Helens 25

Tries: Batchelor, Paasi, Welsby, Lomax

Goals: Lomax (4)

Drop Goals: Lomax

Yellow Cards: Knowles (72')

Red Cards: Mata'utia (18')

Huddersfield Giants: Pryce; McGillvary, Cudjoe, King, I. Senior; Russell, Fages; Greenwood, Levi, Trout; McQueen, Jones; Yates

Interchange: Golding, Wilson, Ashworth, Hewitt

St Helens: Hopoate; Bennison, Hurrell, Mata'utia, Grace; Welsby, Lomax; Walmsley, Roby, Lees; Sironen, Batchelor; Knowles

Interchange: Lussick, McCarthy-Scarsbrook, Paasi, Wingfield

Huddersfield were held by a dogged St Helens defence as they fell short, losing 25-0 at the Totally Wicked Stadium in the Betfred Super League. 

The Giants dominated early possession, with a number of sets on the St Helens line in the opening 5 minutes. It would take a one-on-one strip from Konrad Hurrell for the Champions to get their first meaningful possession of the game after 7 minutes. The Red Vee had thought they'd got the first try as Morgan Knowles offloaded to an onrushing James Roby, but some resolute scrambling defence would see the veteran hooker denied. 

The intensity of the opening ten minutes of the game was palpable, as both sides put in some serious defensive efforts and attempted to maintain discipline, however the pace of the game forced a number of set restarts and penalties in the opening minutes. 

St Helens would have the opportunity to snatch the lead after a penalty was conceded in kicking range, leaving Jonny Lomax the opportunity to draw first blood. Lomax, however, skewed the kick after 14 minutes of the first half, and the sides remained level.

The game changed in the 18th minute, as Sione Mata'utia was sent off after a challenge on Danny Levi, leaving the Champions a man light. Huddersfield thought they had got their opening try after an excellent overload on the left hand flank, but a fabulous defensive challenge from the Saints prevented Innes Senior from getting the ball down. As the opening quarter ended, the game was still scoreless but not bereft of action. 

After receiving their man advantage, the Claret & Gold were able to dominate more of the ball but leading into the first five minutes of the second quarter, the pace of the game forced a number of mistakes in midfield. Defences were still on top, as both sides attempted to wear the other down. 

It would the home side that would breach the solid defences first, however, as Joe Batchelor would profit off a turnover at midfield, with the help of a Jonny Lomax kick, to touch down for the opening score of the game. Lomax would recover from his earlier mishap to convert the try, and the Champions took a six point lead into the final ten minutes of the first half. 

With the hooter running down to zero, the Giants won a penalty after Toby King was held back following a final play kick from 40 out. Will Pryce and the Giants attack chose to take the points, but the young full-back pulled the effort level, leaving the deficit six points in a breathless first half.

The two sides came out with all to play for in this Betfred Super League clash, and a mistake in the centre of the pitch saw the Champions get their chance at Huddersfield's line. Paasi was the benefit of a good ball through the Giants defence to get the hosts second try of the game after just seven second half minutes. Lomax converted for his second of the day from three, and the difference between the two teams was twelve points in favour of the home side. 

Lomax would get his third from the boot just two minutes later, as a penalty in front of the post gave St Helens a chance to extend their lead. An injury for Jermaine McGillvary would stop play for a few minutes, but immediately afterwards the Saints would stretch their lead thanks to Jack Welsby, who touched down in the corner. Lomax, however pulled the conversion wide. 

The second half was played at much the same pace as the first, with big defensive efforts, small margins and the Giants attempting to find a way through the rigid 12-man defensive wall of the home side. Tempers were high throughout the game, fuelled by a raucous crowd and those tempers flared with 8 minutes on the clock, as Morgan Knowles was sent off after a kerfuffle on the line, leaving the home side with eleven men. 

Jonny Lomax would score with six minutes left, and that was probably the try that kept the two points back in St Helens, as a break through the centre of the pitch was converted by the Stand-Off. The Giants thought they'd had their opening try of the game courtesy of Innes Senior late on, but the referee ruled that the wingers foot had been brought into touch by Regan Grace. 

A disappointing night for the Giants, but Huddersfield will look to bounce back when they travel to the South of France next Saturday night, to face Catalans Dragons.