Huddersfield secured a victory against Hull KR, taking them off the bottom of the Super League table.
MATCH DETAILS
Huddersfield Giants scored seven tries as they climbed off the bottom of Super League with a 42-8 victory over Hull KR.
Just their second win of the season, having beaten Wigan Warriors a fortnight ago, the Giants went into the game without eight first team players, but still had enough quality by far against an even worse injury-ravaged KR side.
Kruise Leeming and Jermaine McGillvary both scored two tries, with Oliver Roberts, full-back Darrell McIntosh and prop Suaia Matagi also crossing as Huddersfield went over seven times. Lee Gaskell landed six conversions and a penalty for a 14-point haul.
Rovers were never really in the game which ceased to be a contest in the second forty. Second-rower Weller Hauraki scored the only try, which Ryan Shaw duly converted after kicking a penalty for KR’s only points of the first half.
Huddersfield’s second win in three games lifted them off the foot of the table and up two places to tenth.
FOUR POINTERS
Giants have real team spirit
Despite winning just one game before last night’s match, Huddersfield had a sense of real unity and togetherness. Considering they have eight players out injured, that’s very impressive.
KR don’t have strength in depth
On the other hand, Rovers looked under pressure and lost for ideas for much of the match. Despite Shaun Lunt’s return, it was obvious they missed key players as they were thoroughly outclassed.
Huddersfield should have no trouble
There’s plenty of time for the Giants to make a move up the table. Now they are off the bottom, having won two in the last three games, this should give them the confidence to build on this.
Kruise Leeming, a star in the making
Leeming has been the standout of the Huddersfield side so far this season. He’s been a star in both attack and defence and he is someone the Huddersfield club should think about building a team around in the future.
THE RESULT
Huddersfield 42
Tries: Leeming 2, McGillvary 2, Roberts, McIntosh, Matagi
Goals: Gaskell 7
Drop Goals: n/a
Hull KR 8
Tries: Hauraki
Goals: Shaw 2
Drop Goals: n/a
SQUADS
Huddersfield: McIntosh, McGillvary, Turner, I. Senior, Uate, Gaskell, Frawley, English, Leeming, Matagi, Joe Wardle, Mellor, Lawrence.
Interchanges: Ikahihifo, Roberts, Hewitt, Ta’ai.
Hull KR: Hall, Shaw, Keinhorst, Vaivai, Oakes, Drinkwater, Atkin, Masoe, Lee, Lawler, Hauraki, Tomkins, Addy.
Interchanges: Bardle, Wallis, Lunt, Rooks.
