GIANTS WIN TIGHT BATTLE AT ROVERS

Huddersfield Giants 18-12 Hull Kingston Rovers

Adam Walne returned to the Giants side after a lengthy injury absence for the trip to Hull KR with both sides looking for League points to get away from the Super League relegation battle.

The Giants started on the back foot conceding 3 early penalties which gave field position to the home side and from there a Drinkwater grubber to the ingoal area was touched down by Linnett for the opening try of the evening, Craig Hall adding the extras. 

The Giants had been starved of possession but when they were awarded a penalty on 11 minutes Adam O’Brien’s kick to the ingoal area was touched down by the chasing Matty English, the video referee confirming the award. Darnell McIntosh’s conversion levelled the scores and from that point the Giants began to control the match. 

A break down the centre by Ukuma Ta’ai split the defence but his pass to the supporting Darnell McIntosh was touched away by Joel Tomkins which probably saved a Giants try. A Tom Holmes kick forced a goal line drop out but the Robins defence was sound and despite dominating field position the Giants could not force a way through and the teams went off at the half time hooter all square after a grinding physical battle.

After an early McIntosh scare in the Giants ingoal area when he lost possession the Giants resumed their dominance and on 48 minutes they took the lead Alex Mellor powering over following a penalty the goal kick failing. 2 minutes later though McIntosh slotted over a penalty goal to put the Giants 6 points to the good. Lee Gaskell was causing a succession of problems for the Robins, one of his hicks forcing a goal line drop out. 

Defensively the Robins remained strong but the bulk of the play was taking place in their half of the field. A 59th minute penalty goal by Darnell McIntosh stretched the Giants lead to 8 points but as the game reached its final stages the Robins rallied and a break down the left wit ball then being recycled to the right brought a try for Craig Hall with his conversion reducing the deficit to just 2 points and 7 minutes left. 

This came after the Giants had conceded 2 penalties but they were not going to let the match slip away and on 77 minutes a quality kick by Lee Gaskell was touched down by Jermaine McGillvary in the right corner. The conversion failed and there was still time for the home side to mount a final attack as the game ended in a flurry of excitement but the Giants remained strong and thoroughly deserved their victory which moved them up to 8th position in the League table with 7 games left to play.

Next weekend sees the Challenge Cup semi-finals with the Giants back in action on Friday 2 August at the John Smith’s Stadium against Leeds Rhinos kick off 7.45pm.