Saints v Huddersfield Giants
Result
Betfred Superleague - Round 8
07/04/17 - 20:00
Att: 9,080
Official: C Campbell
Saints and Huddersfield shared the spoils in a dramatic draw at the Totally Wicked Stadium.
A controversial late Sam Wood try handed the Giants a point to leave Keiron Cunningham’s men ruing what could have been.
Saints led 14-0 after a first half performance that mirrored the last one at home to Warrington.
Matty Smith repeatedly turned the Giants around before, 25 minutes in, his half back partner bagged the first of a brace.
Initially, Mark Percival broke down the left hand side and found Jonny Lomax on his shoulder.
The full back was hauled down close to the line but on the next tackle, Zeb Taia popped it on a plate for Fages to dance over.
Percival pin-point with the extras.
Seven minutes later Saints extended their lead and it was thanks to that left edge combination once again.
Zeb offloaded to Fages who was then left one on one with Darnell McIntosh.
He shimmied in and then out to bamboozle the defence cross for his second.
Superb stuff.
Saints were in cruise mode on their next set they scored again.
A superb kick chase saw Aaron Murphy bundled into touch – and right from the scrum, it came left for Percival to put Swift on for his fifth of the season.
14-0 at half time.
The second half was a scrappy affair with Saints probing for another score whilst defending their lines when required.
Morgan Knowles went close on 57 minutes and then some excellent defence stopped a promising Giants’ break.
But on 61 minutes, Huddersfield built pressure on Saints’ line and McIntosh crossed.
Makinson stopped a certain try on 67 minutes but Saints then failed to deal with Brough’s kick to the posts and McIntosh crossed for his second.
The Giants had the momentum and with three minutes to go, Sam Wood collected Brough’s cross field kick and scored in the corner.
It was a controversial one as it looked to everyone in the stadium that he’d knocked on over the line.
Brough missed the conversion to leave it all square and then the Giants lost the ball on the next set to give Saints a great chance of stealing it.
They were just 20 metres out but they never really fashioned the chance to ping over a one-pointer.
Match Summary:
Saints:
Tries: Fages (2), Swift
Goals: Percival (1 from 3)
Giants:
Tries: McIntosh (2), Wood
Goals: Brough (1 for 3)
Penalties Awarded:
Saints: 4
Giants: 3
HT: 14-0
FT: 14-14
REF: C Campbell
ATT: 9,080
Teams:
Saints:
1. Jonny Lomax; 2. Tommy Makinson, 3. Ryan Morgan, 4. Mark Percival, 5. Adam Swift; 6. Theo Fages, 7. Matty Smith; 8. Alex Walmsley, 17. Tommy Lee, 14. Luke Douglas, 36. Zeb Taia, 13. Louie McCarthy-Scarsbrook, 12. Jon Wilkin.
Subs: 10. Kyle Amor, 15. Adam Walker, 18. Dominique Peyroux, 20. Morgan Knowles.
Giants:
24. Darnell McIntosh; 2. Jermaine McGillvary, 23. Sam Wood, 30. Alex Mellor, 5. Aaron Murphy; 6. Danny Brough, 4. Lee Gaskell; 15. Sebastine Ikahihifo, 9. Ryan Hinchcliffe, 10. Shannon Wakeman, 16. Oliver Roberts, 12. Dale Ferguson, 18. Paul Clough.
Subs: 8. Sam Rapira, 14. Kruise Leeming, 19. Nathan Mason, 22. Tyler Dickinson.
Saints Line up
7 | Jonny Lomax |
---|---|
2 | Tommy Makinson |
Ryan Morgan | |
4 | Mark Percival |
18 | Adam Swift |
7 | Theo Fages |
7 | Matty Smith |
8 | Alex Walmsley |
14 | Luke Douglas |
11 | Zeb Taia |
15 | Louie McCarthy-Scarsbrook |
12 | Jon Wilkin |
18 | Kyle Amor |
15 | Adam Walker |
12 | Dominique Peyroux |
13 | Morgan Knowles |
Huddersfield Giants Line up
1 | Darnell McIntosh |
---|---|
2 | Jermaine McGillvary |
3 | Sam Wood |
4 | Alex Mellor |
5 | Aaron Murphy |
6 | Danny Brough |
7 | Lee Gaskell |
8 | Sebastine Ikahihifo |
9 | Ryan Hinchcliffe |
10 | Shannon Wakeman |
11 | Oliver Roberts |
12 | Dale Ferguson |
13 | Paul Clough |
14 | Sam Rapira |
15 | Kruise Leeming |
16 | Nathan Mason |
17 | Tyler Dickinson |
Last updated 18 May 17 11:20:50
Brough nowhere near
Saints knock on. Chance gone.
Huddersfield knock on 20 metres out.
Over in the corner – fans not happy with the call.
Important high take from Ryan Morgan.
Saints fail to deal with a cross kick to the posts from Brough and McIntosh takes a bouncing ball.
Swift makes a superb break from his line – but passes the ball inside to Fages and he can’t hold it. Giants wth a big set in Saints territory.
Saints D strong again – Makinson comes off his life to make an important tackle.
Lomax collects a ball that bounces off the top of the post pads. He takes it over the line, but has to get up again so he isn’t pinged for a voluntary tackle… he then gets dragged over his try line. Giants with a chance.
Period of pressure from the Giants and Darnell McIntosh makes it game on.
Another set for Giants after Saints tip forward a high ball. Visitors then held up.
Huddersfield come the length but Saints too good in D
Morgan Knowles goes close.
Great high take from Swift – Saints then win a penalty.
Penalty to Saints
Giants lose the ball going forward. Story of the second half so far.
Great D from Saints on their own line.
Brough wins himself a penalty
Scrappy opening to the second half – Saints have all the field position but lacking that final pass.
Morgan drops the ball – but makes up for it with a good shot on Lee Gaskell. Giants coming away from their own line.
Back underway here and Saints have a penalty after Amor is hit high.
Another nice kick from Saints, Giants right on their line – a good end to a decent first half.
And Another! Quick play from the scrum and Percy feeds Swift! A try on his 100th appearance.
Try for Theo! 2nd of the night – Zeb offload down the left. Theo one on one, goes in and out and scores in the corner. Superb!
McGillvary comes off his own line with a superb clearing run. Saints under the pump now.
Fages over for Saints first try. Percy with the break and then Zeb pops it on a plate with a fine offload.
Ball to ground as the Giants’ defence is too strong.
Penalty for Saints, chance time.
Nice kick from Saints. Very patient build up from the home side tonight.
Giants trying to give the ball some width, but Saints smother the attack. Both sides not in their flow yet.
Good run from LMS gets Saints near Giants’ territory.
Saints gift Huddersfield a set as they fail to deal with a high ball – but their defence is spot on, on their own line, to quell the danger.
Jon Wilkin comes on to a Walmlsey offload and gets hauled down. Kick from Smith but Fages is pinned for tackling the player in the air.
Lovely take on the sideline from Lomax.
Great take in the corner from a teasing Smith kick.
But it goes to ground.
Saints win the ball in Giants’ 40
Big kick from Smith – nice take from McIntosh
Two sets, two good kicks from each side.
We’re underway