Giants Women vs Featherstone Rovers | Match Report

Lori Halloran's Huddersfield Giants Women picked up their first win of the 2024 Betfred Women's Super League slashing the Rovers 30-10.

The Giants came to the Millennium Stadium with a bleak run of form in both the League and Challenge Cup. Though marked down as a defeat, there was a hearty display against York Valkyrie at Laund Hill the week earlier showcasing the side's highly rated potential.

The visitors were the ones to get out of the blocks first. Debutant Jess Dadds got one over her former Featherstone teammates with a try on the right. Mollie Iceton's 60m sprint on the opposite side of the field after retrieving the Rover's last tackle kick ignited the action. Frankie Townend's conversion effort flew degrees left of the target.

Featherstone couldn't keep their opposition quiet for too long. Conceding a penalty for a high shot allowed the Giants to gain more traction and yardage. Centre Lois Naidole on her return to the starting team scored her first of 2 tries after crossing in-goal to the middle. Townend able to convert with the easy positioning.

Amelia Brown was soon to follow a minute later in her first touch of the ball. Unsurprisingly, the 4-pointer scored from a rapid long distance range, also converted by the Giants stand-off.

Despite the slight drop-off in attacking pressure in the final 20 minutes of the first half, Townend was able to add another try to the tally with a fantastic mid-air grab on the goal line. The kick rounded off the first 40 minutes 22-0 in favour of the Giants.

Marie Colley's talk in the changing rooms must have touched the core of the Rovers as they came out looking like a different team. Defensive pressure enforced the knock on from Bethan Oates, handing the hosts a scrum. Chloe Billington opened the Fev account off the back of the opposition error.

Ellie Lamb crossed undetected in the corner in quick time with the defensive wall weakened from back-to-back sets on their own line. Tally Bryer converted to accumulate their 10 points of the afternoon.

The Giants were snapped back into gear following a sin-binning of their West Yorkshire rivals. Mollie Iceton was on the receiving end of great build-up play to crash down.

The middles proved their worth with some serious yardage gain and in doing so perfectly set up Lois Naidole's second try.

Featherstone's second half comeback couldn't cool down the red hot Giants at a sunny Millennium Stadium, who have now registered their first win of the League season.

Lori Halloran's side will now take on Leeds Rhinos at Laund Hill on the 16th June (2pm).

HALF TIME: 22-0 RESULT: 30-10

Tries: Dadds, Brown, Naidole (x2), Townend, Iceton

Goals: Townend (3/6)

Giants Women: Jess Dadds*, Mollie Iceton*, Ana Da Silva, Lois Naidole, Amelia Brown, Frankie Townend, Sam Hulme, Paige Webster, Bethan Oates, Emma Wilkinson, Jess Harrap, Kacy Haley, Katy Fisher.

*debut.

Subs: Meg Preston, Georgia Hampshaw, Ellie Thompson, Gracie Hobbs.

18th Player: Chloe Fairbank