Huddersfield 22-16 Hull: Giants strengthen position in top four

Huddersfield trailed for more than an hour but produced a storming finish to secure a 22-16 victory over Hull that strengthens their position in the top four of Super League.

The Black and Whites were poised to complete a notable double over the high-flying Giants when they led 16-6, but for the second successive week Ian Watson’s men maintained their composure and ran in three tries in the last 10 minutes to snatch an unlikely victory.

Scrum-half Theo Fages produced a masterclass in game management to get the Giants within range and hooker Danny Levi, who began the match on the bench, came up with the match-winning tries.

A third defeat in their last four matches leaves Hull outside the top six with their play-off hopes fading badly.

Huddersfield were boosted by the return from injury of full-back Tui Lolohea, with Will Pryce switching to stand-off in the absence of the suspended Oliver Russell, while centre Leroy Cudjoe was back from suspension to make his 300th Super League appearance.

Hull, who had prop Chris Satae and centre Connor Wynne back from injury and suspension respectively, dominated the first half for long periods largely due to the prompting of stand-off Will Smith on his second appearance.

Hull open the scoring

Full-back Jack Walker opened the scoring in the fifth minute, juggling with Smith’s pass straight from a scrum to score his first try for the club.

The scrum stemmed from Fages’ inability to hold on to the ball from a towering kick by former Huddersfield favourite Jake Connor, who was also prominent throughout the first half.

Luke Gale was unable to add the goal, but the visitors went close to doubling their score on 26 minutes when Connor released winger Josh Simm, but he was unable to hang on to the pass.

Huddersfield attacked in fits and starts and, when skipper Luke Yates eventually breached their opponents’ line he was held up on his back and Hull immediately worked their way upfield from where they scored their second try.

Centre Wynne got the touchdown after splendid work from Walker and hooker Danny Houghton and Gale’s conversion made it 10-0. Smith was shown a yellow card for pushing an opponent in the face in the try celebrations.

HT: Huddersfield Giants 0-10 Hull FC

The Giants took advantage of the extra man to pull a try back four minutes into the second half.

Pryce got his side within striking distance thanks to a jinking run. Huddersfield kept the ball alive on the last tackle for Lolohea to touch down. Pryce added the conversion from wide out.

Smith was back from the sin bin in time to witness his side re-establish their 10-point lead courtesy Ellis Longstaff. He won the race to Connor’s grubber kick on the last tackle to score his fourth try in five games as part of his loan spell from Warrington.

But the home side struck back on the hour after Lolohea’s raking kick forced an error from Walker and Fages scored from the resultant scrum.

Pryce’s second goal trimmed Hull’s lead to 16-12. Impressive prop Owen Trout became the fourth Giants player to be held up over the line and winger Ashton Golding was bundled into touch as Hull scrambled to stay in front.

The pressure eventually told seven minutes from the end. Levi forced his way over from dummy half to level the score. Pryce’s third conversion put his side in front for the first time.

Levi then made sure with a carbon copy try to round off the scoring a minute from the end.

FT: Huddersfield Giants 22-16 Hull FC

Huddersfield: Lolohea; Golding, Cudjoe, King, I Senior; Pryce, Fages; Trout, O’Brien, Wilson, Jones, McQueen, Yates. Subs: Hewitt, Greenwood, Ashworth, Levi.

Tries: Lolohea, Fages, Levi (2) Goals: Pryce 3

Hull: Walker; McIntosh, Connor, Wynne, Simm; Smith, Gale; Taylor, Houghton, Evans, Lane, Longstaff, Fash. Subs: Brown, Laidlaw, Lovodua, Satae.

Tries: Walker, Wynne, Longstaff Goals: Gale 2

PODCAST: Alex Walmsley on turning down NRL, World Cup pressure & John Kear influence

FOLLOW: Keep up with all the latest on the Love Rugby League mobile app and podcast