Huddersfield held on to a 12-10 victory as Saints were left to rue missed chances and lost at home in the Betfred Super League for the first time since 2018.
It was the Giants who took an early lead through Adam O’Brien, who pounced on a fumble by Tommy Makinson after Aidan Sezer had kicked a high bomb. Sezer added the extras giving the visitors an early 6-0 lead.
Saints responded well and after 14 minutes, Luke Thompson powered his way over the line after taking a short ball from Theo Fages. Makinson added the conversion off the post to bring the scores level.
Saints took the lead in the 22nd minute, Jonny Lomax kicking a lovely ball across the deck to the left corner where Morgan Knowles touched down for his first try of the season. Makinson was unable to convert, leaving the score 10-6 in favour of the Saints.
The Red Vee should have extended our lead shortly after the break, but Kevin Naiqama opted to go himself, with Makinson free to his outside.
But Lomax went over five minutes into the second period, only for the referee to chalk it off as Joseph Paulo was deemed to be obstructing play.
Substitutue Matty Costello thought he had then extended Saints lead midway through the second half, but he knocked on when trying to ground the ball.
Despite Saints’ constant pressure, Huddersfield pulled the scores level through Jake Wardle, who broke down the left hand side to score in the 64th minute. Sezer added the extras to give the Giants a 12-10 lead.
Despite Saints’ continued efforts and dominance going forward, Huddersfield continued to scramble well and held on for the win. It was Saints’ first home defeat in a regular season match since a loss, ironically to the Giants back in August 2018.
Match Summary
Saints 13: Jack Welsby, Tommy Makinson, Kevin Naiqama, Morgan Knowles, Regan Grace, Jonny Lomax, Theo Fages, Alex Walmsley, James Roby, Luke Thompson, Zeb Taia, Dominique Peyroux, Louis McCarthy-Scarsbrook.
Interchanges: Matty Lees, Kyle Amor, Joseph Paulo, Matty Costello.
Tries: Thompson (14), Knowles (22)
Goals: Makinson
Huddersfield 13: Darnell McIntosh, Jermaine McGillvary, Jordan Turner, Jake Wardle, Sam Wood, Lee Gaskell, Aidan Sezer, James Gavet, Adam O’Brien, Paul Clough, Kenny Edwards, Joe Wardle, Michael Lawrence.
Interchanges: Tom Holmes, Oliver Wilson, Aaron Murphy, Ukuma Ta’ai.
Tries: O’Brien (7), Wardle (64)
Goals: Sezer (2)
Half time: 10-6
Full Time: 10-12
Attendance: 10,418
Referee: Gareth Hewer
