SAINTS slipped to their fourth defeat in row as they lost 28-22 to Huddersfield at Langtree Park.
Whilst the performance was much better than the previous loss it leaves the Champions in fourth in the face for the playoff Semi Finals.
Tries from Kyle Amor, James Roby, Tommy Makinson and Travis Burns – plus the boot of Luke Walsh – handed Saints a solid lead.
But they failed to build on it and were undone by Aaron Murphy.
Keiron Cunningham said his team were a little anxious at times but from the kick off it was the visitors who looked nervy.
Saints started on the front foot winning a penalty and then forced the Giants’ defence into some worrying moments.
Huddersfield hit back with a couple of decent sets of their own, but it really was a case of both sides cancelling each other out.
Ten minutes in though, Louie McCarthy-Scarsbrook drew a penalty and following a strong Luke Thompson run, Kyle Amor blitzed over for his third of the year.
But within five minutes Huddersfield were level – and came after they gained a repeat set from a knock on.
Simply, Jamie Ellis moved along the line, ‘showed and goed’ and went under the sticks.
And on 20 minutes Ukuma Ta’ai put them in front with a strong run.
Grix knocked on from the restart though handing Saints back the advantage but they couldn’t find the killer move.
Brough added a penalty on 25 minutes as the home side were caught offside and then Tommy Makinson was unlucky not to latch on to Quinlan’s chip through.
Towards the end of the first half Saints began to build pressure and crossed in the final minute after a bizarre passage of play.
Huddersfield gave away seven penalties in a row – had Michael Lawrence sinbinned because of the team warning – and James Roby went over.
Walsh making it a two point game with the conversion.
Alex Walmsley’s break opened the second half in a positive manner for Saints but Joe Wardle took advantage of a poor penalty in the centre of the field to extend the Giants’ lead.
Saints hit back – and it came on the last tackle in their own half.
Roby took it up, found Walsh who out out a fine ball to Percival.
The centre didn’t panic, even though he slipped, and he due found Tommy Makinson for a great score on his return.
Walsh hit the post with his conversion attempt off the touchline – but was instrumental in Saints’ next try on 50 minutes.
His high kick to the corner was patted back by Makinson to Percival, who then fired one out of the back door for Burns to simply put down.
And the comeback was complete when Walsh added a penalty following Brough’s attempted kick to touch from a 20 metre restart.
Saints probed and almost came again but the Giants cleared their lines.
And when Huddersfield got back to back sets McGillvary crossed in the corner.
Sadly, those ‘repeats’ seemed to come from controversial refereeing calls, 50:50s you get when you’re on top and in form.
Such an example came on 67 minutes too as Saints were penalised under their own posts as they collected a Brough bomb.
It was harsh but the Giants opted to run it and Murphy crossed in the corner.
The Giants’ winger should have made the game safe on 72 minutes before Saints had two sets right on their opponent’s they should have done more with.
James Roby was denied rightly by the video referee late on and a last set foray came to nothing.
Match Summary:
Saints:
Tries: Amor, Roby, Makinson, Burns
Goals: Walsh (3 from 5)
Giants:
Tries: Ellis, Ta’ai, Wardle, McGillvary, Murphy,
Goals: Brough (4 from 6)
Penalties:
Saints: 14
Giants: 11
HT: 12-14
FT: 22-28
REF: Richard Silverwood
ATT: 10,926
Teams:
Saints:
37. Adam Quinlan; 2. Tommy Makinson, 17. Mark Percival, 4. Josh Jones, 5. Adam Swift; 6. Travis Burns, 7. Luke Walsh; 14. Alex Walmsley, 9. James Roby, 10. Kyle Amor, 21. Joe Greenwood, 13. Louie McCarthy-Scarsbrook, 18. Luke Thompson.
Subs: 3. Jordan Turner, 8. Mose Masoe, 19. Greg Richards, 25. Andre Savelio.
Giants:
1. Scott Grix; 2. Jermaine McGillvary, 3. Leroy Cudjoe, 22. Jake Connor, 5. Aaron Murphy; 6. Danny Brough, 20. Jamie Ellis; 8. Eorl Crabtree, 7. Luke Robinson, 10. Craig Huby, 4. Joe Wardle, 12. Jack Hughes, 17. Ukuma Ta’ai.
Subs: 14. Michael Lawrence, 15. Craig Kopczak, 24. Kruise Leeming, 32. Daniel Smith.
