2020 SL Round 6, St Helens 10 Huddersfield Giants 12 – Report
Sam Taylor reviews Huddersfield Giants shock win over St Helens as they continued their strong start to the season. Here’s how the game went.
MATCH TIMELINE
| Minute | Scoring Play | Score |
| 7th | Try Adam O’Brien (Huddersfield) | Huddersfield 4-0 |
| 8th | Goal Aidan Sezer (Huddersfield) | Huddersfield 6-0 |
| 14th | Try Luke Thompson (St Helens) | Huddersfield 6-4 |
| 15th | Goal Tommy Makinson (St Helens) | Huddersfield 6-6 |
| 22nd | Try Morgan Knowles (St Helens) | St Helens 10-6 |
| 64th | Try Jake Wardle (Huddersfield) | St Helens 10-10 |
| 64th | Try Aidan Sezer (Huddersfield) | Huddersfield 12-10 |
MATCH SUMMARY
1st Half
Huddersfield lost a man early on as former Saints half-back Lee Gaskell hobbled off in the opening exchanges and was replaced by Tom Holmes.
They didn’t seem to disrupted through as they took the lead. Tommy Makinson fumbled a kick from Aidan Sezer and it was pounced upon by Adam O’Brien. Sezer converted to make it 6-0.
The lead did not last long as Luke Thompson crashed on to a short Theo Fages ball to level up the scores.
Mlrgan Knowles played the second half against Toronto in the centres after James Bentley went off injured and he once again found himself in the unfamiliar position. Knowles put Saints in front after grounding a inch perfect Jonny Lomax grubber.
2nd Half
Saints started the second half the better side. Kevin Naiqama had a golden opportunity to extend the lead if he passed the ball to his winger Tommy Makinson but he decided to go alone and was tackled just short of the line.
Jonny Lomax then thought he had scored but referee Gareth Hewer believed that James Roby had prevented Jordan Turner from making a tackle so blew for obstruction.
Matty Costello then came on for the Saints and soon after coming he on he lost the ball over the try line.
Despite all the pressure, Saints couldn’t make Huddersfield pay and against the run of play Jake Wardle scored a long range effort to put the Giants in the lead.
Huddersfield were out on their feet in the final moments of the game as Saints looked to find a winner but the Giants defended resolutely and managed to jeep Saints out to continue their impressive start to the season.
GAME HIGHLIGHT
Jake Wardle is tipped for a big future at the Giants and you can see why. He took his try superbly as he broke down the field 40 metres out, rounding full back Jack Welsby in the process.
SQUADS
St Helens: Welsby, Grace, Knowles, Naiqama, Makinson, Lomax, Fages, Walmsley, Roby, Thompson, Taia, Peyroux, McCarthy-Scarsbrook.
Interchanges: Lees, Amor, Paulo, Costello.
Huddersfield Giants: McIntosh, Wood, J. Wardle, Turner, McGillvary, Gaskell, Sezer, Lawrence, Edwards, J. Wardle, Gavet, O’Brien, Clough.
Interchanges: Holmes, Wilson, Murphy, Ta’ai.
