Catalans 14-22 Huddersfield: Giants hold off Catalans fightback to win in France

Huddersfield held off a second half fightback to move within a point of Catalans in the top two of Super League.

It wasn’t until Chris McQueen’s 79th minute try that the Giants could be sure of victory, after the hosts had fought back from an 18-0 first half deficit.

Ian Watson’s side started on the front foot with a 40/20 from Tui Lolohea setting the platform for a passage of play that resulted in Ricky Leutele scoring down the right hand side.

Will Pryce, playing for the first time after his 10 match ban, missed the conversion but sooner after added a penalty for 6-0.

Adam O’Brien crossed for their second try on 24 minutes, and just minutes before the break, McQueen scored his first try, both converted by Pryce for 18-0.

The only blot on the Giants copybook was a late penalty conceded, that saw Sam Tomkins convert a penalty for 18-2 at half time.

Fightback

Within 15 minutes of the restart, Catalans had dragged themselves back in to the game.

Tries from Arthur Mourgue and Mathieu Laguerre, both converted by Tomkins, pulled the score back to 18-14 with more than 20 minutes to go.

Catalans piled on the pressure but as the game went on, Huddersfield started to command more field position and three consecutive penalties eased pressure on the Giants.

They forced repeat sets before eventually the pressure told, with Challenge Cup final man of the match McQueen scoring their fourth try to seal a 22-14 win.

Huddersfield now climb to third in the table, a point behind Catalans, three behind leaders St Helens.

Catalans: Tomkins, Davies, May, Laguerre, Yaha, Mourgue, Pearce, Dudson, McIlorum, Napa, Whitley, McMeeken, Garcia. Subs: Seguier, Dezaria, Chan, Kasiano.

Huddersfield: Lolohea, McGillvary, Cudjoe, Leutele, Wardle, Cogger, Pryce, Trout, O’Brien, Lawrence, Jones, McQueen, English. Subs: Levi, Hewitt, Mason, Ashworth.

LISTEN NOW: Eorl Crabtree dissects Challenge Cup final & predicts successful Huddersfield future