Huddersfield Giants won a nervy game at KCOM Craven Park, winning 18-12 thanks to tries from Matty English, Alex Mellor and Jermaine McGillvary. Here’s our verdict…
MATCH DETAILS
The hosts opened the scoring through Kane Linnett in the seventh minute, after a weighted Josh Drinkwater kick.
The visitors responded five minutes later, when Adam O’Brien chipped a beautifully weighted kick into the in-goal, finding an outstretched Matty English to give Huddersfield their only points of the match in a half that the Giants dominated for large spells.
Alex Mellor opened the scoring for the Giants in the second stanza, and after a missed conversion from McIntosh, the full-back took the visitors to a six point lead in the 51st minute.
Nine minutes later, McIntosh converted another penalty after a high shot from the hosts, with the scores 14-8 with just over 20 minutes left on the board.
The hosts reduced the deficit to two thanks to a Craig Hall touchdown, but the Giants would seal the victory thanks to a Jermaine McGillvary sliding finish after a kick from Lee Gaskell.
A nervy final minute saw the Robins throw everything at the Giants but the Claret and Gold held firm to complete the sweep on the season over the Robins.
FOUR POINTERS
Rovers Miss Out
The match was a potential back-to-back win for Rovers which would’ve been the first time this season. However Huddersfield denied them just that.
It would seem Hull KR’s biggest consistency is their inconsistency as they looked like a completely different side in comparison to when they beat Leeds last week.
Huddersfield Shine On
The match was tipped to be another relegation battle and whilst it defied expectation to be a high-scoring encounter, it was the Giants that proved to be the better side.
Huddersfield have responded in fine fashion since their defeat to Catalan Dragons at home, earning them their second consecutive away win.
Late Changes
Rovers have had a tough week losing Matt Parcell due to injury. But it got a little worse when Warrington recalled both Luis Johnson and Harvey Livett from their loan spells.
Therefore head coach Tony Smith was forced to make three changes, rotating Danny Addy and Chris Atkin at hooker but their attractive rugby wasn’t to be seen.
The last-minute decision from Warrington – who had to announce their 19-man squad prior to their match on Sunday – raised a lot of questions as to whether this disrupted the performance.
Team Collective
Lee Gaskell was awarded the man-of-the-match who was the spark of Huddersfields attack through large spells of the game.
Despite the Giants looking cagey at times, it was their strength and determination that made them the better the deserved winners.
THE RESULT
Hull KR + 12
Tries: Linnett (7), Hall (74)
Goals: Hall (2)
Drop Goals: n/a
Huddersfield + 18
Tries: English (12), Mellor (47), McGillvary (78)
Goals: McIntosh (3)
Drop Goals: n/a
SQUADS
Hull KR: Adam Quinlan, Craig Hall, Jimmy Keinhorst, Kane Linnett, Ben Crooks, Josh Drinkwater, Danny McGuire, Daniel Murray, Danny Addy, Robbie Mulhern, Weller Hauraki, Joel Tomkins, George Lawler
Interchanges: Mitch Garbutt, Mose Masoe, Chris Atkin, Owen Harrison.
Huddersfield: Darnell McIntosh, Jermaine McGillvary, Louis Senior, Jake Wardle, Innes Senior, Lee Gaskell, Tom Holmes, Matty English, Adam O’Brien, Adam Walne, Alex Mellor, Ukuma Ta’ai, Michael Lawrence.
Interchanges: Kruise Leeming, Suaia Matagi, Oliver Wilson, Aaron Murphy.
