Friday, March 30, 2012

Leeds 12-22 Huddersfield

Huddersfield Giants returned to winning ways and the head of the Super League table with victory against champions Leeds Rhinos at Headingley.

Zak Hardaker gave Leeds the lead after an unremarkable first 25 minutes but tries from Eorl Crabtree and Jason Chan handed Giants the half-time advantage.

The visitors took full control after the breakthrough with quick tries from Greg Eden and Jermaine McGillvary.

Kylie Leuluai scored to offer Leeds hope but Giants held firm to seal victory.

Rhinos, who were left as red-faced as they were red-headed following last weeks thumping defeat at St Helens, were forced to shuffle their pack when Rob Burrow and Brent Webb were ruled out before kick-off.

Meanwhile, the Giants saw a four-match unbeaten run ended at home to Hull KR last weekend but welcomed back the experience of Luke Robinson and Lee Gilmour to the starting line up.

The primary quarter of the match was largely forgettable, with loose passing and handling errors aplenty, although opposing stand-offs Kevin Sinfeld and Danny Brough both tried to force the difficulty with the boot.

Leeds eventually made the breakthrough through former Featherstone three-quarter Hardaker on 25 minutes, who beat Brough to a Sinfield chip-kick for his seventh try of the season and the games opening score.

However, the lead lasted just five minutes, as Crabtrees power and size took him over the road after defence by Hardaker held up Chan just short.

Giants then grabbed the sport by the scruff of the neck following the equalising try, and took the lead when Chan made up for his missed chance, coverting a strong break by Scott Grix minutes before half-time.

Sinfields restart went out at the full at hand Giants the advantage at the start of the second one period, and with the visitors within the ascendancy Leeds looked to have conceded a 3rd try when Larne Patrick went over, but Kallum Watkins did well to force the knock-on in-goal.

Brian McDermotts Leeds didn't heed the warning, and were punished twice in quick succession soon after.

Firstly, Leeds full-back Ben Jones-Bishop did not gather a bouncing kick, and whole-back Eden skipped in to attain, after which moments later Jermaine McGillvary finished off a flowing break involving Eden and Brough for Giants fourth try with greater than 20 minutes to head.

Leeds introduced Liam Hood at hooker and it was he and fellow academy product Stevie Ward who lifted the hosts fightback.

Ward gained field position when he beat McGillvary at the outside and after Giants held out through desperate defence, Leuluai powered over from close in to minimize the deficit to ten points.

With time running out Leeds stepped up the pressure but Nathan Browns side were untroubled and secured an imposing victory at their rivals home.

POST-MATCH REACTION

Huddersfield Giants head coach Nathan Brown said of full-back Greg Eden:

"Hes got the prospective to be certainly one of greatest players on this competition, theres little doubt about that in any respect.

"Hes the British version of Billy Slater. Thats how Billy Slater was when he was young. He can do things most other players on this competition or the NRL cant do.

"The skys the limit for that child. Hes brilliant. Hes young and with youth comes slightly pain in certain cases."

Leeds Rhinos head coach Brian McDermott said:

"a few quick-fire tries by Huddersfield early inside the second half was probably the variation.

"Overall our performance was much better than last week. Its disappointing that three tries came from soft missed tackles. Thats easily fixed but i'd rather Huddersfield had needed to work far harder for some tries.

"Nonetheless, i assumed they defended rather well and came up with a little enterprise for a few tries. Ive no complaints, i presumed they deserved to win the sport."

FRIDAY NIGHT'S LINE-UPS

Leeds: Jones-Bishop; Smith, Watkins, Hardaker, Hall; Sinfield, Ward; Leuluai, McShane, Peacock, Clarkson, Delaney, Ablett

Replacements: Griffin, Hood, Moore, Kirke

Huddersfield: Eden; McGillvary, Cudjoe, Wardle, George; Brough, Grix; Crabtree, Robinson, Faalogo, Gilmour, Chan, Lee

Replacements: Lawrence, Faiumu, Patrick, ODonnell.

Attendance: 15,408

Referee: Richard Silverwood (Dewsbury).



From WhatNewsToday.net

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