Match Report | Leeds Rhinos

Huddersfield Giants lost out 6-34 to Leeds Rhinos on Thursday evening.

After a huge win against Salford Red Devils in their last outing, the Giants stepped out onto the field with an aim to make it back to back super league wins, and a league double over the visitors Leeds Rhinos.

It was an unwanted start for the Giants as Ash Handley touched down for his 13th try of this campaign, following a high ball into the corner and a lengthy video referee check.

The Giants went through the following minutes in impressive fashion, displaying excellent defensive intuition and toughness. This included two final-play tackles from Matty English, whose efforts uplifted the crowd, whilst keeping the Rhinos at bay. 

Deservedly, the Giants got themselves on the board shortly after, and it was homegrown hero Aidan McGowan who sealed his first ever try for the Giants. McGowan blocked Handley’s off-the-floor clearance of a Giants low kick, before following and securing the bouncing ball for four points. A remarkable Jake Connor kick from the touchline evened up the scoreline at 6-6.

Video referee was called into action again, however this time ‘no try’ was shown, as the Rhinos were denied a second try of the game due to double movement.

Maintaining their impressive spell, the Giants were looking growingly formidable.

Called onto the field was young Fenton Rogers, whose sequence of hard hits and forceful carries got the Cowbell Army excited.

The Giants almost had their reward, as a prolonged build up of pressure, partnered with silky hands, resulted in Elliot Wallis acrobatically touching down in the corner. Although it was the Giants’ turn to be halted by video referee, who declared that the ball was in touch, putting an end to celebrations. 

The Rhinos made the most of this, and secured themselves a try at the other end only moments after as consequence of an out of character handling error by Jake Connor.

In quick succession, the Rhinos had another score to their name. A breakaway after a controversial challenge in the tackle led to Matt Frawley touching down next to the posts. 

Rhyse Martin made it 3/3 from the tee, which made the halftime scoreline Giants 6-18 Leeds Rhinos after a well contested, physical first half.

The second half began in the same intense fashion, with both teams giving as good as each other. 

The Giants had the first major chance of the half, as Jake Bibby was held up at the end of a fantastic final play move. 

Despite their best efforts, it was the visitors who struck first in the second half, as Ash Handley scored his second of the game in the far corner following a team move across the line, just on the hour mark.

The next passages of play involved the Giants trying their best to remain firm, but eventually the line was broken by Brodie Croft. The Giants were putting out a gutsy, effort-packed performance, but it just wasn’t proving to be enough on the night.

Lachie Miler’s hot-stepping try, and yellow cards to both Sam Lisone and Adam Milner, rounded of tonight’s contest, which drew to a close with the score Giants 6-34 Leeds Rhinos.

A tough pill to swallow for Robinson’s men, but plenty of positives mixed in, including the phenomenal effort shown by all players.

The Cowbell Army will look to right their wrongs next week as they take on Wigan Warriors.

Giants Team: Connor, Wallis, Halsall, Naiqama, McGowan, Lolohea, Clune, Hill, Milner, English, Jake Bibby, Cudjoe, Rushton

Interchanges: Golding, Russell, Salabio, Rogers, Jack Bibby

Tries: McGowan

Goals: Connor

Leeds Rhinos Team: Miler, Edgell, Momirovski, Newman, Handley, Croft, Frawley, Oledzki, Ackers, Esel Jr, McDonnell, Martin, Smith

Interchanges: O’Connor, Lisone, Donaldson, Bentley, Sinfield

Tries: Handley x2, Newman, Frawley, Croft, Miler

Goals: Martin x5

Attendance: 4923

By James Devine | Photo Credit Darren Greenhalgh