GIANTS SECURE FIFTH SPOT

Huddersfield Giants went down 24-23 to Hull KR on Saturday night but secured fifth spot in the table. Rod Jenson and Paul Reilly ran in two tries but a Paul Cooke drop goal won the game for Hull KR.

The Giants now face Hull FC at the KC Stadium on Saturday 22nd September, KO 7pm. Tickets go on sale Monday morning from the Galpharm Ticket Office.

REPORT
engage Super League Round 27

Teams:
Hull K R: Ian Hardman; Mark Lennon, Rhys Lovegrove, Luke Dyer, Andreas Bauer; Paul Cooke, James Webster; Mick Vella, Ben Fisher, Ryan Tandy, Chris Chester, Jason Netherton, Scott Murrell
Substitutes: Makali Aizue, Jim Gannon, Kirk Netherton, Chaz I'Anson

Giants: Chris Thorman; Paul Reilly, Jamahl Lolesi, Chris Nero, Rod Jensen; Kevin Brown, Brad Drew; Keith Mason, Ryan Hudson, John Skandalis, Stuart Jones, Andy Raleigh, Stephen Wild
Substitutes: Robbie Paul, Eorl Crabtree, Paul Jackson, Darrell Griffin

Referee: P Bentham

Half time score: Hull KR 12 Giants 14
Full time score: Hull KR 25 Giants 24

Scorers: Hull KR: Tries: Vella, Chester, Fisher (2)
Goals: Cooke (4)
Drop goal: Cooke
Giants: Tries: Reilly (2), Nero, Jensen (2)
Goals: Thorman (2)

Giants Man of the Match: Rod Jensen

Penalties conceded: Hull KR 2 Giants 9
Goal line drop-outs conceded: Hull KR 2 Giants 2

Weather: Dry
Temperature: 17C

Attendance: 6700

Report
The Giants were expecting a tough encounter at Craven Park in the last Round of Super League fixtures of 2007 with the home side looking to put on a good show for their supporters in this their first season back in the top flight.

The Giants were looking to maintain their momentum going into the play-offs next week-end having attained that position for the first time in their history last Sunday. Coach Jon Sharp retained the same players who had defeated Wakefield at the Galpharm with the exception of Darrell Griffin replacing Steve Snitch on the substitutes bench.

With a vociferous home crowd roaring on their favourites the Giants were put under early pressure but it was the Giants who came up with the first try of the match on 9 minutes, Paul Reilly scrambling over in the corner after a fine attacking move, Chris Thorman being wide with the conversion attempt. The Giants suffered a blow a minute later with John Skandalis having to leave the field with a nasty looking head injury and they were also conceding penalties which were giving good field position to the Rovers.

The Giants defence was sound however until the 19th minute when after a Paul Cooke kick had forced a goal line drop out and then a further penalty Mick Vella went over for a Rovers try to which Paul Cooke added the extras and give his side a 2 point lead. The Giants responded with a fine break by Rod Jensen which almost brought results and they regained the lead on 27 minutes, Paul Reilly squirming his way over in the corner on the back of 2 consecutive penalties going the Giants way, the try being confirmed by the video referee. Chris Thorman again failed with the conversion attempt but the Giants now had the momentum and 5 minutes later Chris Nero crossed for a fine try after swift passing had created space out wide on the left. This time Chris Thorman added the extras to give the Giants an 8 point advantage but on 36 minutes the lead was reduced to 2 points, Chris Chester going over by the posts after the Giants had conceded a goal line drop out. Paul Cooke added the extras.

It had been a tough first half with the game flowing from end to end and the Giants just about deserving to be in front but the penalty count against would have given coach Jon Sharp some concerns.

The Rovers almost scored shortly after the resumption, a try being ruled out for a forward pass, and it was the Giants who went further ahead with a Rod Jensen try from a Brad Drew kick, Chris Thorman missing the conversion when he seemed to stub his kick. The same player was though successful with the conversion when Rod Jensen showed electrifying pace to race some 45 metres for another excellent try and with the game entering its final quarter the Giants had a 12 point lead. The Giants though were continuing to be knocked back by penalty decisions and their defence was breached on 64 minutes with a Ben Fisher try coming on the back of a Rhys Lovegrove break. Paul Cooke added the conversion to set up a grandstand finish, and to add to the Giants problems Chris Thorman had to leave the field with an arm injury. With the momentum now firmly with the Rovers Ben Fisher sent the home supporters wild 3 minutes later with a fine individual try from acting half back on the last tackle running 40 metres to score between the posts. Paul Cooke's conversion levelled the scores and the same player nudged his side in front with a 73rd minute drop goal. Despite valiant late efforts notably by Kevin Brown and Ryan Hudson the Giants could not breach the Rovers defence and the final hooter sounded with the Giants one point adrift.

The result did not affect the Giants final League position of 5th, the highest they have achieved in Super League, a remarkable achievement bearing in mind the fact that they lost the first 7 games of the season.The injuries to John Skandalis and Chris Thorman had not helped the Giants cause in this game though thankfully John Skandalis was able to return to the field in the second half with a bandaged head. Had the normally reliable Chris Thorman kicked his conversion attempts the Giants would surely have won this game but his kicking has been superb throughout the season.

The Giants travel to Hull again next Saturday evening this time to the KC Stadium to take on the side finishing 4th in the table in the first round of the top 6 knock -outs, the loser being eliminated. The game will be new territory for the Giants but one they will be anticipating eagerly; the youger players in the team would have learned a great deal from the Rovers encounter, particularly in learning how to cope under pressure.