21 Feb 2020

Giants go top of Super League

Huddersfield Giants 22-4 Hull Kingston Rovers

The stormy weather of the last few days had not abated as the Giants travelled along the M62 to East Hull for Round 4 of the Super League programme looking to maintain their 100% record but at least the rain had held off by the time the match kicked off. The strong gusting wind though was likely to prove troublesome to both teams.

The Giants were playing into the wind in the first half and the strength of the wind was quickly shown when Lee Gaskell gathered the kick off to establish early field position for the Giants.

On 5 minutes a well worked move gave Louis Senior the chance to race over wide out down the left for the first score of the evening, Aidan Senior’s conversion attempt hitting the post and bouncing out.

Two minutes later the Giants sustained a blow when Darnell McIntosh sustained a leg injury chasing a kick through and took no further part in the match after trying to battle on for a few moments.

The Robins were enjoying the bulk of possession but the Giants defence could be breached and on 20 minutes another well worked move saw Lee Gaskell cut clean through the Robins defence on an angled run the line to touch down for a fine try, Aidan Sezer adding the extras. Handling errors and penalties were not helping the home team’s cause but they did come close when Keyes got over the Giants goal line only to be denied by a superb Joe Wardle tackle.

Overall the Giants were handling the conditions much better than the home side but were unable to add to their lead before the half time hooter as the Giants defence despite the wind held firm.

Two minutes into the second half the Giants suffered a further injury blow when James Gavet was stretchered off after a 12 minute stoppage for treatment on the field.

A scrappy period of play followed punctuated by a number of handling errors but then on 56 minutes Aaron Murphy broke through down centre field on a 45 metre run and although he was stopped field position was obtained which enabled Aidan Sezer to Paul Clough over for a close range try by the posts, Sezer adding the extras.

On 61 minutes the home defence was split wide open again and Suaia Matagi powered through two opposition tacklers for another Giants try, Aidan Seser’s conversion putting the Giants 22 points to the good and the result virtually assured. The Robins did manage a late consolation try br Crookes, but Ryan Brierley’s conversion attempt finished up further away than it had started in the gusting wind conditions.

Although the Robins had enjoyed the bulk of possession they had seldom tested a dominant Giants team who had comfortably maintained their 100% record in testing conditions.

Next time out for the Giants is a visit to the John Smith’s Stadium by the Wigan Warriors on Sunday 1 March kick off 3.00pm where better conditions are expected.

Teams: Hull KR: Dagger; Minikin, Kenny-Dowall, Linnett, Crookes; Keyes, Brierley; Murray, Parcell, W Maher, Livett, Storton, Hadley

Interchanges: Mulhern, Garbutt, Trout, Minchella

Giants: McIntosh; McGillvary, Jake Wardle, Wood, Senior: Gaskell, Sezer; English, O’Brien, Matagi, Murphy, Joe Wardle, Lawrence

Interchanges: Clough, Edwards, Gavet, Ta’ai

Referee: L Moore

Half time: Hull KR 0 Giants 10

Full time: Hull KR 4 Giants 22

Scorers:

Hull KR:

Try: Crookes

Giants:

Tries: Senior, Gaskell, Clough, Matagi