Saints » Results

SAINTS missed out on the chance to go for ‘four in a row’ as the Huddersfield Giants booked a date at Wembley with a 24-14 win at the Halliwell Jones Stadium.

Two tries within five opening second half minutes ultimately gave the Giants the edge in a pulsating Challenge Cup Semi Final.

Francis Meli’s second with around 25 minutes to go had given Saints a lifeline after finding themselves 18-4 down.

But the Giants held on for a famous win despite almost constant pressure from the Saints.

Apart from the first ten minutes, Saints dominated the first half but failed to threaten when close to the Giants’ line.

Brett Hodgson opened the scoring for Huddersfield only to see Francis Meli pull the scores level.

From there, Saints had all the possession and territory, but couldn’t find a way through a resolute defence. That said, they did have three tries correctly disallowed in the final five minutes of the half...

Stephen Wild’s try – minutes before the hooter – came against the run of play to give the Giants a 10-4 half time lead.

In the second half, two tries within ten minutes turned the game on its head. Leroy Cudjoe put the Giants further ahead within the first minute and then Kevin Brown increased the lead moments later.

Francis Meli got his second following superb work from Jon Wilkin and Lee Gilmour but Wild’s second sealed the win.

The excellent Meli notched up a deserved hat-trick at the death.

Pre-game, Keiron Cunningham passed a late fitness test on his knee and started at hooker, whilst Chris Dean and Bryn Hargreaves both overcame illness to be named in the 17.

James Roby was also unexpectantly recalled to the side after sustaining a broken hand against Wakefield and featured on the bench.

A mobile pack – that’s was the theme of the Giants’ side – with the canny Brett Hodgson named to come off the back of their go-forward and Scott Moore lining up once again to face his ‘parent’ club.

Crowd wise Saints easily outnumbered their Yorkshire counterparts and were in fine voice before the match too.

Saints kicked off and set about getting stuck into the Giants pack. And on Huddersfield’s first set, Luke Robinson fired up a high bomb that was taken by Ade Gardner.

On their next set, Robinson broke through, fed Brett Hodgson, who had Liam Fulton on his outside. From there, Jamahl Lolesi had a clear run to the line, but he slipped at the vital moment and the chance was lost – Chris Dean hovering up.

It was a warning Saints should have heeded as, on the back of a penalty, Robinson combined with Fulton to send the ball wide to Brett Hodgson who brought his winger into play and then took the return pass to go over. He then missed the simple conversion.

On 10 minutes, Wellens took a cute chip to the corner from Robinson, who seemed to be the hub of everything Huddersfield in the opening exchanges.

But three minutes later, Saints were handed a penalty right on the Giants’ line and after a couple of drives, it went left and Francis Meli popped up with a four-pointer. The ball was floated to him and the big man backed his strength to go over. Eastmond wide with the extras.

On 19 mins, Matt Gidley went close and then Eastmond’s chip was caught under his own crossbar by Brett Hodgson.

Seven minutes later, Leroy Cudjoe was caught in goal after another deft chip from Eastmond.

From the drop out, Saints won a penalty and after Eastmond gained good yards, the video referee ruled Leon Pryce was held up over the line. On the last, Eastmond’s slide-rule chip was cleared by the defence.

But out of nowhere, Giants took the lead. After being on the back foot for the majority of the first half, Stephen Wild took a nice, but forward-looking, pass to go over after Huddersfield had created a 4 on 1 overlap. B. Hodgson with the conversion.

In the last minute of the half, Saints worked a wonderful move from the scrum that saw two dummy runners, and a superb pass from Pryce, set up Eastmond. The youngster went for the line and was just held up short by some excellent cover tackling. Two tackles later, Lee Gilmour went for the gap and outstretched the ball over the line. But he was called for a double movement.

Half Time: Saints 4 Huddersfield 10

Straight from the kick off, a knock on gave the Giants prime attacking options. From the scrum, the ball was kicked to the corner and Leroy Cudjoe won a foot race with Paul Wellens to plant the ball down. B. Hodgson short with the tricky extras.

And six minutes later, Robinson’s kick to the corner caused mayhem with both David Hodgson and Ade Gardner jumping for the ball. When the ball came down, Kevin Brown mopped up the ricochet to fortuitously increase the Giants’ lead. For all eyes, it looked like Hodgson had knocked on to Gardner’s head, but the video referee ruled otherwise.

When Saints hit back, it was only as they know how. From within their half, the ball went left and Pryce fed Jon Wilkin.

Wilkin then gobbled up the yards before Lee Gilmour chipped ahead - only for Wilkin to recollect and feed the waiting Meli for his second of the game. Eastmond with the extras.

Saints’ next set almost brought another score; Eastmond chipping into the centre and Lee Gilmour just knocking on.

With 18 minutes to go, Saints had more pressure on the Giants’ line. On the back of three penalties they had three good sets but couldn’t find a way though some scrambling defence.

Six minutes later Saints were knocking on the door again – this time winning a drop out as the Giants held firm.

Eastmond tested out Cudjoe with six minutes left in the game, but he took the ‘bomb’ well under pressure from Meli.

From there, the Giants went the full length of the field and the outstanding Brett Hodgson’s chip found its way to Stephen Wild who sent his side to Wembley.

Meli added his third as the hooter warmed up.

Match Summary:

Saints:

Tries: Meli (3)

Goals: Eastmond (1 from 3)

Huddersfield:

Tries: B. Hodgson, Wild (2), Cudjoe, Brown

Goals: B. Hodgson (2 from 5)

Penalties:

Saints: 8

Huddersfield: 11

HT (Sts First): 4-10

FT (Sts First): 10-24

REF: Richard Silverwood

ATT: 10638

Teams:

Saints:

1. Paul Wellens; 2. Ade Gardner, 3. Matt Gidley, 19. Chris Dean, 5. Francis Meli; 6. Leon Pryce, 18. Kyle Eastmond; 10. James Graham, 9. Keiron Cunningham, 16. Tony Puletua, 13. Chris Flannery, 12. Jon Wilkin, 11. Lee Gilmour.

Subs: 14. James Roby, 15. Bryn Hargreaves, 17. Paul Clough, 24. Andrew Dixon.

Huddersfield:

1. Brett Hodgson; 21. Leroy Cudjoe, 11. Jamahl Lolesi, 4. Paul Whaturia, 5. David Hodgson; 3. Kevin Brown, 7. Luke Robinson; 16. Keith Mason, 20. Scott Moore, 10 Darrell Griffin, 13. Stephen Wild, 6. Liam Fulton, 9. David Faiumu.

Subs: 8. Eorl Crabtree, 15. Paul Jackson, 18. Danny Kirmond, 24. Shaun Lunt.

Sunday 9th Aug 2009, 4:00pm Attendance: 10638
	Vs
Saints	Vs	Huddersfield Giants
14		24

Results

Saints 14 - 24 Huddersfield Giants