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Huddersfield Giants overturned two deficits as they beat Saints 28-26 at the Galpharm Stadium.

A controversial last second try in the first half and one early doors in the second half saw the Giants emerge victors in a real rollercoaster of a clash.

Maurie Fa’asavalu secured only his sixth starting spot for the Saints and Gareth Frodsham returned to the bench as Saints bid to continue their excellent Easter run that started with the 46-10 hammering of local rivals Wigan on Good Friday.

Huddersfield made a couple of changes in their back row which saw powerhouse Eorl Crabtree take up the second row berth. Former Saint Stuart Jones also made his 100^th appearance for the Giants.

Both teams shared an evenly matched first five minutes with Thorman and Long kicking deep into the opposition’s territory.

But it was Saints who opened the scoring on five minutes when Sean Long put in a towering kick on the last tackle and Gilmour was adjudged to have touched down – although the press’ consensus seemed to indicate it was Wellens who had the last touch. Long easy with the extras.

Huddersfield threatened almost immediately with some pressure on the Saints’ line, but the defence held firm.

Long stretched Saints’ lead on the quarter of an hour mark with a penalty in front of the sticks after an infringement in the tackle.

Saints could have been further ahead from the restart when Roby stormed through and showed great awareness of those around him put in a perfectly weighted kick for Meli to ground. But the winger just couldn’t gather it in.

But Flannery made amends with a superb run – cutting back inside and rounding the full back for Saints’ second score – and his second of the season. Long 100 per cent with the boot.

Huddersfield crashed over through Griffin to reduce the arrears on 25 minutes and Thorman converted to make it a 14-6 ball game.

Lolesi then edged the Giants closer with a four-pointer on the right ten minutes before half time.

But Saints hit right back almost straightaway when a perfectly judged kick from Long was picked up by Pryce for his third of the season. Long perfect with the conversion.

Wellens saved an almost certain try when Huddersfield made a mistake on the play the ball – grabbing the loose ball and returning it with interest.

Then Meli fielded a tricky grubber kick to quell any further danger.

And then a bizarre sequence of events led to Whatuira touching down. The hooter went for half time and a couple of seconds later referee Ian Smith allowed the ball to be played.

In the melee, the ball bounced several times before Whatuira was adjudged to have grounded the ball although the referee let the game run until Clough’s outstretched boot put it into the Saints’ speccies behind the goal.

And, to further infuriate the Saints players – the in goal touch judge ruled that the Giant hadn’t grounded the ball – all to no avail as Smith pointed to the spot.

Thorman with the extras.

Half Time: Huddersfield 16 – 20 Saints.

Into the second half and Huddersfield continued where they left off with a try from Griffin from short range. Thorman putting the Giants ahead for the first time with the boot.

Pryce almost put Eastmond over seconds later but the youngster just couldn’t pull the ball in.

And from a strong defensive set, which kept the Giants at bay on their own line, Saints went the full length of the field within 10 tackles and Roby restored Saints’ lead. Long excellent with the extras from a tricky angle.

The game was turning into a real war of attrition with both sides hammering each other down the middle.

On 60 minutes Eastmond excellently fielded a Thorman kick and then Gardner cleared Saints’ lines.

But the try the Giants had threatened came when the ball was worked wide for Jensen to go over in the corner. Thorman with a pearler of a conversion to send the Giants two ahead.

With five minutes to go a chip through from Wilkin was unluckily knocked forward by Francis Meli and the Giants held on for victory.

Match Summary

Huddersfield:

Tries: Griffin (2), Lolesi, Whatuira, Jensen

Goals: Thorman (4 from 5)

Saints:

Tries: Wellens, Flannery, Pryce, Roby

Goals: Long (5 from 5)

Penalties:

Huddersfield: 9

Saints: 7

HT (Sts First): 20-16

FT (Sts First): 26-28

ATT: 7,131

REF: Ian Smith

Teams:

Huddersfield:

1. Chris Thorman; 22. Mike Lawrence, 4. Paul Whatuira, 11. Jamahl Lolesi, 24. Rod Jensen; 6. Kevin Brown, 7. Luke Robinson; 16. Keith Mason, 9. George Gatis, 10. John Skandalis, 17. Steve Snitch, 8. Eorl Crabtree, 14. Stuart Jones.

Subs : 12. Andy Raleigh, 15. Paul Jackson, 18. Darrell Griffin, 19. Ryan Hudson.

Saints:

1. Paul Wellens; 2. Ade Gardner, 3. Matt Gidley, 4. Willie Talau, 5. Francis Meli; 6. Leon Pryce, 7. Sean Long; 23. Maurie Fa’asavalu, 14. James Roby, 17. James Graham, 11. Lee Gilmour, 16. Chris Flannery, 12. Jon Wilkin.

Subs: 15. Mike Bennett, 21. Paul Clough, 24. Kyle Eastmond, 26. Gareth Frodsham.