Huddersfield Giants 32 Hull FC 18: Hodgson leads fightback as Giants overcome Hull

The error-ridden Giants were 18-0 down and looking like a side incapable of completing a set let alone registering a try.

Composed Hull, meanwhile, had grown in belief with efforts through Jordan Turner, Willie Manu and Kirk Yeaman showing all the signs of a team that had risen to fourth in Super League.

But, once Hodgson put namesake David over in the 36th minute, the momentum of this pulsating Yorkshire derby wildly swung and Richard Agar's side crumbled as Huddersfield ran in 32 unanswered points.

The fact the visitors did not receive a single penalty in the second period cannot have helped – referee James Child awarded nine consecutively to Huddersfield stretching back to the first half – but much was down to the incisions of Brett Hodgson who re-discovered the form that earned him last season's Man of Steel award.

The veteran Australian full-back finished with a 100 per cent record with the boot, slotting five conversions and the crucial penalty that put his side ahead for the first time in the 63rd minute while his support play proved outstanding.

Gifted Kiwi loose forward David Faiumu was equally destructive off the bench as sixth-placed Huddersfield secured only their second win since the end of April and made ground on Leeds and yesterday's visitors.

They had Kevin Brown returning from his England debut while Brad Drew came back from injury and ex-Hull man Graeme Horne earned a recall to offset the loss of injured trio Eorl Crabtree, David Fa'alogo and Jermaine McGillvary.

But Nathan Brown's men were distinctively off the pace in the first half. Three times they maddeningly lost possession on the first tackle after being awarded a penalty, twice they broke through Jamahl Lolesi and Shaun Lunt only to waste the opportunity while whenever they went wide their moves fell to pieces.

Their renowned defence proved paper thin at times so it was no surprise Hull, who had England winger Tom Briscoe returning in place of Craig Hall, took advantage.

The in-form Turner gave the visitors an eighth-minute lead with full-back Jordan Tansey's break down the middle proving the source.

He splintered the Giants' defence before kicking to the corner where winger Richard Whiting did well to deftly avoid touch and throw back inside for Turner to dive over.

Moments after Lunt had raced clear and found no one with his pass, Manu added Hull's second, hitting Danny Houghton's short dummy half delivery before breaking Brown's weak attempted tackle to crawl over from close range in the 22nd minute.

They were in again four minutes later after Child penalised erring Huddersfield while in possession for a second time.

Sean Long attacked their right-hand side and Tansey linked in before delaying a pass for Yeaman who too easily fended Leroy Cudjoe away to cross.

Danny Tickle – playing his 100th Hull game just two days after turning down a move to Huddersfield – maintained his own 100 per cent record with a third conversion and there seemed only one winner.

However, grizzled hooker Drew brought some impetus from the bench and – after forcing their first drop out – Huddersfield finally clicked, Brett Hodgson providing the assist for namesake David to glide in for his 20th try of the season.

Crucially, his side scored first in the second period as Hull started poorly. Faiumu's famed footwork at the line confused their defence and the Kiwi sent Brett Hodgson racing clear from halfway, the captain finding Brown in support.

When Tansey then spilled Danny Brough's towering kick in the 53rd minute, Cudjoe picked up the pieces for his 16th touchdown of the campaign and Hodgson's third conversion from wide levelled at

18-18.

Huddersfield, now with a mountain of possession as Hull tried mirroring their first-half performance, should have taken the lead when Darrell Griffin powered through off Luke Robinson's deft pass soon after and bumped clear of Tansey but Stephen Wild was denied at the line by Long.

However, Hodgson made sure with his penalty and tiring Hull had no answers as more home opportunities came.

Brown was sent clear by Keith Mason's delicate pass but the England stand-off inexplicably delivered an awful pass with team-mates on either side.

It mattered little. After an eighth straight penalty in their favour, Brown chipped a perfect kick to the corner that eluded the otherwise excellent Briscoe and Lolesi profited.

When Long tried to get his side back in the game with eight minutes remaining, Lunt intercepted the scrum-half's ambitious back-handed pass and raced 65 metres for the finishing score to rub salt into broken Hull's already gaping wounds.

Huddersfield Giants: B Hodgson; Cudjoe, Lolesi, Lawrence, D Hodgson; Brown, Brough; Griffin, Robinson, Mason, Gilmour, Wild, Lunt. Substitutes: Drew, Patrick, Faiumu, G Horne.

Hull FC: Tansey; Whiting, Turner, Yeaman, Briscoe; Washbrook, Long; Dowes, Houghton, Cusack, Tickle, Manu, Fitzgibbon. Substitutes: Radford, Moa, Lauaki, Berrigan.

Referee: James Child (Dewsbury).

MATCH FOCUS

Hero: Brett Hodgson

Safe under the high ball and always at the heart of things when Huddersfield's attacking game needed sharpening up

Villain: Jordan Tansey

The Hull full-back was going along nicely until a three-minute spell where he gifted Jamahl Lolesi a try, missed Darrell Griffin and threw out a horrendous pass to deny Hull a chance of hitting back.

Key moment: 62nd minute

Brett Hodgson's penalty gave his side the lead and there was no way the Giants were ever going to relinquish it.

Next game

Huddersfield Giants v Hull KR; Friday June 25, 8pm; Hull FC v Catalans; Friday June 25, 8pm.

Verdict

Curate's egg for both sides, each showing what could make them genuine contenders when it comes to reaching Old Trafford but likewise demonstrating why they may just as easily slip up on the way.V

Quote of the day

We got what we deserved. We had a really, really sloppy start to the second half and with such a mountain of possession against you it will take its toil.

– Hull FC coach Richard Agar does not look for excuses.