GIANTS CLAIM VICTORY AT THE GALPHARM

The Huddersfield Giants claimed a fantastic 26-16 win over Harlequins RL at the Galpharm Stadium. The Giants ran in three tries with Tom Hemingway kicking 7 goals.

Report:

The Giants were forced to make several changes due to injury and suspension as they returned to the Galpharm following a 5-week absence to take on in-form Harlequins who had defeated the Leeds Rhinos in their last encounter. Youngster Michael Brown made his Giants debut as he replaced the ill Darrell Griffin in the seventeen.

The game began with a flurry of scores, Tom Hemingway giving the Giants the lead on two minutes with a penalty goal, but the Harlequins hit back by scoring from the restart as the Giants failed to gather the kick off, and Tony Clubb went over for the try. Henry Paul missed the conversion and within 3 minutes the Giants were back in front when a Lolesi grubber kick was not gathered by the Harlequins defence over the try line and Michael Lawrence pounced for the try. Tom Hemingway added the extras to give the Giants a four-point advantage.

The game ebbed too and fro in the very blustery conditions with both sides making errors. A Danny Orr kick forced the Giants to concede a goal line drop out and from the position gained Karl Temata, went over for a try from the resulting play. Henry Pauls conversion gave the visitors a two point lead which they held right up to the half time hooter. Although Leroy Cudjoe almost crossed for the Giants, being held up over the line.

The Giants had put in a sound first half performance against the wind, with Tom Hemingway in the backs and Stuart Jones and Andy Raleigh in the forwards being prominent.

Almost from the kick off in the second half, Tom Hemingway put the Giants in the ascendancy with a forty-twenty and his kick then forced a goal line drop out and as the pressure mounted on the Harlequins defence penalties were conceded resulting in eventually a Tom Hemingway penalty goal. Eorl Crabtree then lost possession over the try line when he looked all over a scorer and a Danny Kirmond run further raised Giants hopes.

On 52 minutes, Jamahl Lolesi crossed for a fine try, to reward the pressure after excellent work by Michael Lawrence and Eorl Crabtree. Tom Hemingway’s conversion put the Giants six points to the good, and seven minutes later the Giants supporters were on their feet to applaud a superb team try finished off by Stuart Jones, playing in the un-accustomed position of hooker this afternoon, after Paul Whatuira had created space for Eorl Crabtree to surge towards the posts. Tom Hemingway again added the extras, and as the Giants continued to force the Harlequins back on defence, Leroy Cudjoe’s kick forced another goal line drop out. On seventy two minutes Tom Hemingway kicked another penalty goal as the visitors continued to incur the displeasure of referee Phil Bentham, but after a spell of pressure inside the Giants half, Michael Worrincy was rewarded a try to which Henry Paul added the extras.

There was however to be no dramatic finish as the Giants quickly took play back into the Harlequins half and from yet another penalty conceded, Tom Hemingway slotted over an extra two points to give a final advantage to the Giants of ten points.

MOM- Tom Hemingway.
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Huddersfield (8) 26
Tries: Lawrence, Lolesi, Jones Goals: Hemingway 7

Harlequins (10) 16
Tries: Clubb, Temata, Worrincy Goals: Paul 2

Huddersfield: Cudjoe, Aspinwall, Lawrence, Wild, Elford, Whaturia, Hemingway, Skandalis, Jones, Mason, Lolesi, Snitch, Raleigh.
Replacements: Crabtree, Jensen, Kirmond, M Brown.

Harlequins: Melling, Bryan, Clubb, Howell, Sharp, Hill, Orr, McCarthy-Scarsbrook, Randall, Ward, Worrincy, Paul, Mbu.
Replacements: Rinaldi, Temata, Haggerty, Heckenberg.

Referee: P Bentham (Castleford)

Penalties Conceded- Giants 7 Quins 13

Goal Line Drop Outs Conceded- Giants 2 Quins 3

Weather- V Windy
Temp- 16c

Attendance 4,176