18 Jul 2019
THE CHALKBOARD: VS CATALANS
The story behind the scoreline from our narrow defeat to Catalans Dragons in the Continental Clash
By Sean Evans
Last
week’s high-scoring affair was backed up by another high-scoring affair but
this time it was the Giants that fell short after Catalans Dragons breathed
heavy fire and glided through the valiant Huddersfield defence.
Individual
errors were brought up last week, and it seemed Simon Woolford was once again
scratching his head from almost minute one, after veteran winger Jermaine
McGillvary threw a nothing offload straight into the jaws of the Dragons, the
next attack much like last week, costing the Giants points.
Differently to last week, is the shape of attack that Catalans throw compared to that of the compact styles we witnessed last week. Where as we spoke about the immediate threat of a compact system in taking on the line, creating space outside. The complete opposite needs to be defended in a slight more spread out system.
After
a stellar defensive performance last week, here the Giants shows us what not to
do.
With Tomkins slightly deeper and wider than we saw Lolohea, Gaskell is caught a bit tight meaning he has to move sharply across to cover. Tomkins presses that movement and guides Gaskell’s body shape to face the touchline before harshly stepping back into the gap on his weak shoulder.
It
must be said, Catalans defensive effort wasn’t reflected in the score line and
they became a very tough team to break with a plan set to take both points,
which makes our attacking performance that bit more impressive, even if we did
just fall short.
Our
compact attack found it’s match as the dragons stood to defend the halves and
pressured the outsides to really slow down the attack and cut out options, but
luck - and at times some awesome skill from the players - favoured the brave
and odd bounces here and there really allowed the Giants to find some skilful
rugby, the best parts of which came from the boot.
Catalans really struggled to cope with some great kicking game tactics from the home side, with our second try coming from a little grubber but the try of the game was no doubt made on the training field.
Catalans
aggressive defensive play was cut in half by a quick play the ball, and when
Gaskell galloped onto the ball the defence knew there was trouble. In an
attempt to minimise the damage, the dragons push wide, meaning fullback Tomkins
had to cover the holes, leaving a large gap in mid-field. Frawley followed
eagerly once the kick was put through and a nice bit of skill meant McIntosh
could slam down.
Lee Gaskell - the man with the plan.
Gaskell despite some defensive misses in this game, was the man once again that the plan funnelled through and it was his individual pieces of skill that led Huddersfield around the field.
We spoke about Tomkins’ first try and the veteran full-back plays a lot differently than he did when he first broke onto the scene but Gaskell’s unequivocal style has been consistent throughout his career and it is something defences just can’t plan to defend.
His individual effort saw him escape his man, dodge around the defensive press that had been pushed up throughout the game and back inside the gap left inside to cruise over the line.