MATCH REPORT | CATALANS DRAGONS (H)

Huddersfield Giants were defeated 18-38 at home vs Catalans Dragons in Round 7 of the Super League.

An injury riddled squad has forced Luke Robinson into a reshuffle across the backline with a debut being handed out to academy graduate Connor Carr on the wing with Jacob Gagai going into the halves for the injured Tui Lolohea, Aiden McGowan started at full back. Liam Sutcliffe started at centre over Taane Milne who is on the interchange bench. Moreover, Fenton Rogers is accompanied by Thomas Burgess in the front row for as Matty English.  Joe Greenwood started over Matty Rushton in the second row. On the interchange bench  joining the Cowbell Army on a two week loan from Hull KR is hooker Bill Leyland, with Jack Bibby and Jack Billington accompanying him.

With the games opening exchanges being played at a furious tempo it was the hosts who opened the scoring after 17 minutes. A break from McGowan from inside his own 10m zone, the Giants kept the play at 100mph with a further break from Sam Halsall, the Giants found the tryline through Jacob Gagai. Sutcliffe added the extras to increase the lead to 6-0. 

Catalans hit back straight after, however as a number of penalties allowed the Dragons field position, and a kick through from Keary saw Sims collect the grubber and score, Bichet added the extras from the touchline to level the scores at 6-6. 

Injuries keep hitting the Giants with both Fenton Rogers and Ashton Golding going off respectively, but the side kept showing their doggedness until a pass found the Dragons winger Leo Darrelatour who dived over in the corner. Aispuro-Bichet missed the extras, however the Dragons  had the lead for the first time with 5 minutes left of the first half. Matters were then made worse for the Giants as it was awarded as an eight point try, and sin binning Sam Hewitt in the process which then gave Aispuro-Bichet a shot at the sticks from straight in front which he did convert. 6-12. 

Another penalty saw Catalans extend the lead on the hooter to 6-14.

Straight after half time the visitors score again, after a towering kick which was left ungathered by the Giants backfield was eventually claimed by Dragons prop Julian Bousquets for a try under the sticks. Aispuro-Bichet added the extras to further extend the lead to 6-20. 

Another Dragons try at the start of the second half as Bailey Sironen ghosted through the Giants defence to dot the ball down under the sticks. Aispuro-Bichet increased his tally for the afternoon by another to points to take the score to 6-26 in the favour of the visitors. 

A delicately threaded grubber kick from George Flanagan Jr found a diving Jake Bibby to score to close the gap on the French outfit. Liam Sutcliffe added the extras to take the score to 12-26. 

Seguier who dived over the Giants line to take the visitors over 30 points. Aispuro-Biget added the extras to take the score 12-32.  

Flangan’s on point kicking game proving clinical yet again for the Giants with 13 minutes left on the clock as a perfectly weighted dink found Sam Halsall who’s athletic leap over his man gave him the momentum to dot the ball down. Sutcliffe’s kick sailed straight through the uprights to close the gap to 18-32.  

A bulldozing run from Tavita Pangai Jr sealed the deal for the Dragons as the big prop found the tryline from close range with a minute on the clock. Aispuro-Bichet added two more points to his tally to take the score to 18-38. 

Huddersfield Giants 

McGowan, Carr, Sutcliffe, Jake Bibby, Halsall, Gagai, Flanagan Jr, Burgess, Golding, Rogers, Hewitt, Greenwood, Cudjoe 

Interchanges 

Leyland, Jack Bibby, Billington, Milne 

Catalans Dragons 

Aispuro-Bichet, Makinson, Smith, Romano, Darrelatour, Keary, Fages, Pangai-Jr, Da Costa, Garcia, Sims, Sironen, Partington 

Interchanges 

Satae, Bousquets, Laguerre, Seguier 

Attendance: 3638