Leeds Rhinos 12 Huddersfield Giants 31: Giants deliver fitting tribute to Jennifer

ON A night when struggling Huddersfield Giants needed something special for more reasons than one, Rick Stone's spirited side produced their first win in 10 games at Leeds Rhinos.

The depleted Fartowners wore black armbands last night as a mark of respect after the sudden death of club owner Ken Davy’s wife Jennifer on Wednesday.

She was one of the main reasons the benevolent Huddersfield chairman, who has ploughed so much money into the Giants, first became interested in rugby league and was much-loved around the club and community.

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It was fitting, then, that the West Yorkshire club dug so deep to earn a win that brought so much relief – they lost to part-timers Swinton Lions in the Challenge Cup on Sunday – but also denied their derby rivals top spot.

That spirited Huddersfield did this without nine first-teamers on a filthy night at Headingley only adds to the sense of achievement, as they scored 19 unanswered points in the second period to leave Leeds stunned.

Granted, the hosts will point to Danny McGuire’s controversial disallowed try in the 52nd minute, when the game was level at 12-12, as a turning point.

Referee Chris Kendall awarded it on the field but he was over-ruled by video official Jack Smith.

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Just three minutes later, the visitors claimed the lead as Adam O’Brien, the hooker making his first Super League appearance for Giants since leaving Bradford Bulls, dinked through a grubber for former Odsal colleague Dale Ferguson to touch down.

Danny Brough, who marshalled his side expertly, converted and when, soon after Adam Cuthbertson dropped a ball on his own 20, it was the veteran stand-off who spread the ball wide to Darnell McIntosh to race in at the corner.

Brough duly slotted the touchline kick – his 1500th career goal – and, as Leeds’s error-rate grew, added a drop goal in the 67th minute to make sure. There was even time for Oli Roberts to expose more turgid Rhinos goalline defence to squeeze through five tacklers, Brough finishing with a 100 per cent record.

Most people expected Leeds to put 40 points on them last night with pressure intensifying on the Australian Stone.

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When the visitors actually dominated the early possession, though, there was hints the damage might not be as brutal.

Still, initially, Giants did did nothing with it, not Brough’s 40/20 in the opening set, nor when Ryan Hall spilled coming out of his own 20, nor after two penalties advanced them deep into Rhinos’ territory.

Instead, fumble after frustrating fumble left them pointless.

In contrast, Leeds did not venture as far as Huddersfield’s 20 until the 13th minute but then, after Jermaine McGillvary’s dropped ball, scored immediately and with alarming ease.

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Matt Parcell dummied from 10m out and the visiting defence simply parted.

Many then expected Huddersfield to crumble but, in fairness, and a sign of things to come, they responded positively, overcoming that earlier profligacy with two tries in five minutes to show they could penetrate.

The first, on the quarter mark, was a bizarre effort as the centre Alex Mellor crabbed crossfield and then dinked an unexpected grubber through almost at a right angle with the outside of his boot.

Jake Mamo was onto it in a shot and did well to regather to score his third try in as many games.

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There were suggestions, too, he may have been offside but Brough converted from in front and, soon after, Kruise Leeming’s fine 40/20 put Stone’s side on the attack again.

This time Leeds were guilty of the same sin as Huddersfield had been when Parcell scored; their dozing defence simply opened up as Leeming dummied through.

Brough improved once more but Leeds levelled in the 31st minute. Stevie Ward found himself in possession on the last tackle and, as the Huddersfield defence rushed the back-row expecting a kick, he stepped and accelerated into the space.

Full-back Jack Walker, the 17-year-old who debuted in last week’s Challenge Cup win over Doncaster and was Leeds’s best last night, supported and produced a fine step before passing back towards Ward.

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McIntosh got a hand in the way but it only went as far as Joel Moon who collected to score, Kallum Watkins adding his second goal.

Level 12-12 at the break, Leeds – with a far stronger bench – certainly remained favourites to push on and win their eighth game in nine matches.

However, they did not allow for the resolute nature and sheer doggedness of this Giants side.

Leeds Rhinos: Walker; Briscoe, Watkins, Handley, Hall; McGuire, Moon; Galloway, Parcell, Mullally, Jones-Buchanan, Delaney, Cuthbertson. Substitutes: Burrow, Ward, Singleton, Garbutt.

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Huddersfield Giants: Mamo; McGillvary, Mellor, Murphy, McIntosh; Brough, Wood; Ikahihifo, Leeming, Wakeman, Roberts, Ferguson, Hinchcliffe. Substitutes: Clough, Smith, English, O’Brien.

Referee: C Kendall (Huddersfield).