12 hrs

WOMENS TEAM WIN FIRST FRIENDLY VS FEV - Match Report

The Giants were forced to defend strongly early on as Featherstone enjoyed the better of the territory, but the defensive line held firm.

Against the run of play, the Giants struck first. Faye Barraclough burst down the right wing from her own half to score under the posts. Becky Grady added the conversion to give the Giants a 6–0 lead.

The Giants soon doubled their advantage with another long-range effort. Amelia Brown sliced through the defence from around 50 metres out to go over beneath the sticks, with Grady again converting to make it 12–0.

Featherstone continued to build pressure and eventually found a way through when their full-back swept around the back to score out wide. The conversion was missed, narrowing the score to 12–4.

Giants responded well, Bethan Oates raced from her own half to score in the right-hand corner – the Giants’ third long-range try of the half. The conversion attempt was missed by Sam Hulme, extending the lead to 16–4.

Featherstone hit back before the break with a powerful barge-over close to the posts, and a successful conversion to make it 16–10 at halftime.

The second half began with more determined defence from the Giants, who absorbed early pressure before forcing an error deep inside the Featherstone half. The pressure soon paid off when Sam Hulme, coming off the bench, dived over from close range. Grady converted to push the score to 22–10.

Featherstone threatened to respond but some superb scramble defence from the right edge stopped another try.

However, the Giants were reduced to twelve players when Amelia Brown was sin-binned for an offside professional foul with around 20 minutes remaining.

Featherstone took advantage of the extra player and created an overlap down the left edge, crossing out wide. The conversion was missed, bringing the score back to 22–14.

Huddersfield responded quickly, Sam Hulme produced a superb cut-out pass to the right wing where Faye Barraclough finished well in the corner for her second try of the match. The conversion was missed, extending the lead to 26–14.

Featherstone grabbed a late try under the posts in the final minute and added the conversion, but it proved too late as the Giants held on to secure a 26–20 victory.