Both sides were desperate for a win, and the points, in the
opening game of round thirteen as second bottom side Huddersfield Giants looked
for their second win of the season against a Leigh Leopards side who were
looking to end a three-game losing streak.
Huddersfield haven’t beaten Leigh since February 2024,
losing the only meeting between the two sides in 2025 by a fourteen-point
margin, and as a result the Giants were given a ten point start on the coupon.
A win wouldn’t help the Giants league position, although it
would lift them clear of Salford in bottom spot, but if the Leopards could get
the points then they would move above the Rhinos and into third.
It took sixteen minutes for the Leopards to hit the front,
and when it came it was way too easy. Isaac Liu took a short ball to walk
through the defensive line for the simplest of tries. Ben McNamara added the
conversion from in front of the sticks.
Leigh turned defence into attack on twenty-five, McNamara
supporting Keenan Brand who had stepped out of a tackle to break for seventy
metres before making the crucial pass inside to set his scrum half free to run
in the last twenty. He added the conversion to his try for a 12-0 lead, the
Giants counting themselves unlucky after a decent showing.
Delightful footwork from George Flanagan opened the Giants
account on thirty-two as he wrongfooted three Leigh defenders to ghost in from
twenty metres out. He added the conversion to his own try to reduce the arrears
to just six points.
As the half time hooter sounded, there was very little
between the sides.
Three minutes after the restart Leigh scored another simple
try David Armstrong taking a Lachlan Lam pass and running the arc to score from
ten metres out without a Giants hand being laid on him. McNamara added the
conversion for 18-6.
Rewarded for some great work from dummy half, Lam scored the
fourth Leigh try to put the game out of the grasp of the Giants. An initial
break for seventy metres down the centre of the field took him close to the
line before he passed and play was stopped. As fast play the ball saw Lam scoot
over. McNamara was unable to add the touchline conversion.
On fifty-seven a Lam dummy and pass put Frankie Halton over
from five metres to break Giants hearts. McNamara added the conversion for a twenty-two-point
advantage.
A flying Adam Swift snatched what looked like a Giants
consolation on sixty-five as he leapt for the corner to ground. Flanagan added
the conversion from the touchline for 12-28.
But Leigh were to get a late scare when a Sam Halsall
runaway try on seventy-five edged the Giants score closer, the Flanagan goal reducing
the margin to ten points. Two minutes later Cudjoe leapt to take a high kick,
the ball fumbled by Hodgson and collected by the Giants loose forward to score.
Flanagan added the conversion and there were just four points between the sides
with three minutes remaining.
Leigh rode their luck in a nervous last few minutes as the
Giants pushed for the winning points, but in the end they held on for the win,
and will be thankful that the game wasn’t a few minutes longer.
Despite the loss this was an improved performance from the
Giants who were equal to the Leopards for long periods. The difference was that
Leigh grasped the slightest of opportunities to rack up the points and secure
the win. Occasional defensive lapses cost the Giants dear and there will be
plenty of viewing of video tape during the week to try and plug some massive
defensive holes. Leigh up to third, the Giants with just one win in thirteen
outings
Huddersfield Giants: Flanagan (T, G 4/4), Halsall (T),
Bibby, Milne, Swift (T), Clune, Lolohea, King, Woolford, Powell, Rushton,
Greenwood, Cudjoe (T). Subs: Golding, Wilson, Rush, Burgess. 18th
Man: Hewitt.
Leigh Leopards: Armstrong (T), McIntosh, Niu, Hanley, Brand,
McNamara (T, G 4/5), Lam (T), Ofahengaue, Ipape, Mulhern, Trout, Halton (T),
Liu (T). Subs: Hughes, Tuitavake, Davis, Hodgson. 18th Man: Dwyer.
Half-Time: 6-12.
Full-Time: 24-28.
Score Progression: 0-4, 0-6, 0-10, 0-12, 4-12, 6-12: HT:
6-16, 6-18, 6-22, 6-26, 6-28, 10-28, 12-28, 16-28, 18-28, 22-28, 24-28 :FT.
Lead Exchanges: Leigh.
Referee: Jack Smith.
