Giants lose narrowly to Salford

Huddersfield Giants 12-18 Salford Red Devils

Huddersfield Giants (8) 12

Tries: English

Goals: Pryce (4)

Drop Goals:

Salford Red Devils (6) 18

Tries: Williams, Lolohea, Ormondroyd

Goals: Inu (4)

Drop Goals:

Huddersfield Giants: Golding; Leutele, Cudjoe, Wardle, Senior; Cogger, Pryce; Trout, Peats, Wilson; Jones, Greenwood; Yates

Interchanges: Hewitt, English, Wood, Peteru

Salford Red Devils: Lolohea; Williams, Inu, Costello, Burgess; Atkin, Brown; Johnson, Ackers, Ormondroyd; Livett, Greenwood; Burke

Interchanges: Luckley, Norman, Addy, Robson

Huddersfield Giants failed to make it four successive wins at the AJ Bell Stadium as they fell to Salford Red Devils, 18-12. 

Huddersfield welcomed Ricky Leutele and Jack Cogger back into the starting line-up, replacing Oliver Russell and Jermaine McGillvary in the starting thirteen. The Giants sought their fourth win on the bounce at the former home of Head Coach, Ian Watson. 

The Giants struck first from the boot, with Will Pryce dispatching a penalty conceded 20 metres from the try-line after 10 minutes. The two sides went toe to toe for the rest of the first quarter in a game characterised by fierce defence and a dearth of space in attack. A head-knock to Ricky Leutele in the 18th minute saw the Samoan centre removed from the action and forced a reshuffle that saw Sam Wood deputise at centre. 

After 25 minutes, however, the Giants breached the Salford defence through Matty English, who found the gap in the line to waltz in and extend Huddersfield's lead by four. Pryce dispatched the extras to increase the lead further soon after. 

Three minutes from the end of the first half, a growing spell of pressure for Huddersfield was broken by an interception by Krisnan Inu set up Rhys Williams for a length of the field try to reduce the deficit to four points. Inu would add the extras to make a two point ball game at the half. 

Huddersfield began the second half under the kosh, as the end of the first set brought with it a tough kick for Ashton Golding defending the touchline. While he collected, he was bundled into touch and Tui Lolohea took full advantage running through a gap to score, giving the hosts their first lead of the game. Inu would have to take the kick from the touchline, but skewed it wide, keeping the difference between the sides at two points. 

A penalty a few minutes later gave an opportunity for Will Pryce to level the scores, which he did from slap bang in front of the posts, 25 metres out. Price would regain the lead for the Giants with 24 left on the clock from the boot again. 

Salford would strike back three minutes later however, courtesy of Jack Ormondroyd, who burst over underneath the posts, with Inu dutifully popping over the extras to restore the hosts lead. A high shot 12 metres from the posts gave Inu another shot at adding two to the total, which he did, giving Salford a lead of six points with 17 minutes left of the second half. 

There was late drama as a high tackle caused a serious kerfuffle with 90 seconds left on the clock, which resulted in Leroy Cudjoe and Greg Burke receiving Yellow Cards for their part in the melee. Huddersfield got the ball back, and matriculated the ball upfield before making a play for a last-minute leveller, but a pass meant for Giants winger Louis Senior went above his head as the hooter sounded. Huddersfield face Leeds Rhinos next, and will be looking to register another win in their Betfred Super League season.