Round 16
Huddersfield Giants 42 d. Les Catalans Dragons 34

2006 English Super League Index [Table] [Draw] [Player Stats] [Club Headlines]

Location: United Kingdom > National > First Grade Competition: English Super League

Gardner hat-trick helps Giants steal stunning game
Tue June 13, 2006
Source: www.giantsrl.com

French newcomers to Super League Les Catalans Dragons made their first visit to the Galpharm Stadium with the weather conditions likely to test the stamina of both teams. Giants were still without the services of James Evans and Jim Gannon and the rib injury sustained by Martin Aspinwall last week against Salford caused him also to miss out.

The visitors made the brighter start and they went ahead on 8 minutes, Stacey Jones' long pass putting Justin Murphy over in the corner after the Giants had been penalised 30 metres out. The conversion attempt failed, but 2 minutes later Les Catalans extended their lead, Rinaldi making an excellent offload in centre field from the ruck, good support play then putting Guigue in for a try between the posts. Frayssinous added the extras to give his side a 10 point lead.

Gradually though the Giants began to find their feet and on 16 minutes reduced the deficit, Matt Gardner crossing wide out after Paul March had set up the position with a mazy run into the 20. Michael De Vere 's conversion meant there was just a 4 point gap between the teams. On 18 minutes a passage of play occurred which had a significant bearing on the game, a Stacey Jones kick in the Giants 20 going straight into the hands of Chris Nero who raced away for some 50 metres before being hauled down by Stacey Jones who ruined his own efforts by holding down in the tackle as Nero looked for a quick play the ball and being sent to the sin-bin by the referee. From the penalty the Giants moved play to their right and Stephen Wild put Matt Gardner over in the corner, just too wide out for Michael De Vere to convert.

The impetus of the game though had now swung to the Giants and on 25 minutes Matt Gardner was over in the corner for a hat-trick of tries in 9 minutes, Stuart Jones having set up the position in the visitors' 20. Michael De Vere was again wide with the conversion attempt, but the Giants had taken the lead for the first time in the match. That lead was extended on 30 minutes, Eorl Crabtree being the provider for Paul Smith's try by the posts, Crabtree showing great strength as he powered through the defence before giving a perfectly timed pass to the supporting Smith. Michael De Vere added the extras and although the Giants continued to ask questions of the visitors' defence there was no further score in the half.

After a sluggish start the Giants had responded well but Les Catalans had also shown what a dangerous side they could be and it was vital for the Giants to remain totally focussed if they were to win the game with the heat and humidity likely to take its toll later on in the game.How dangerous Les Catalans were became immediately evident at the start of the second half, Alex Chan taking advantage of an error by the Giants coupled with sloppy defence to get a try on 42 minutes. Frayssinous added the extras to leave the Giants with a slender 4 point lead. This was extended to 6 points on 48 minutes with a Michael De Vere penalty for a high tackle after Matt Gardner's short kick ahead had almost brought him another try, the visitors conceding a goal line drop-out. Paul Jackson scored his first try of the season for the Giants on 56 minutes, Les Catalans having lost possession in their own half. Michael De Vere's conversion gave the Giants a 12 point lead, but the visitors would not go away, and on 60 minutes they bounced back with a try to John Wilson following a flowing move, this coming after Eorl Crabtree had lost possession in the visitors' 20. Frayssinous added the extras and the Giants lead wasd down to 6 points.

A Brad Drew drop goal effort on 67 minutes was wide of the mark but a minute later Stephen Wild snapped up the ball 35 metres out when Fakir lost possession and powered his way over for a try, again just too far out for Michael De Vere to add the extras. A 10 point lead with 12 minutes left looked comfortable for the Giants but Les Catalans had other ideas and the last 8 minutes had Giants supporters experiencing emotions which went from despair to ecstacy as the visitors took the lead with tries on 72 and 74 minutes, Rinaldi burrowing his way over from acting half back for the first and then Justin Murphy crossing for a fine individual try for the second.
Frayssinous kicked the goals for both tries, and worse for the Giants, Paul March was stretchered off after attempting to stop the Murphy try.

With the clock on 79 minutes and Les Catalans in possession an attempted kick was gathered by Stephen Wild some 60 metres out and he set off on a powering memorable run to score wide out and put the Giants back in front by 2 points. Michael De Vere missed the conversion attempt. With seconds remaining a short kick off resulted in the visitors getting possession; the hooter then sounded and an attempted kick forward in midfield failed the ball falling into the hands of Steve Snitch who hared away for a try to which Michael De Vere added the extras to bring to an end a truly extraordinary game, those last 8 minutes being frantic.

Giants supporters were lost for words at the end; the Giants had snatched victory from the jaws of defeat when all seemed lost. They had shown tremendous character though overall it had been a performance which had been good in parts but not so good in other parts. Giants coach Jon Sharp said after the match it had been a struggle all afternoon; Les Catalans are a side difficult to shake off and full credit to them. They are a good side and had dominated the ruck for several periods of the game. For the Giants though it is probably the mark of a good side to win when it has not played particularly well.

Huddersfield Giants Head Coach Jon Sharp was pleased with his side's 42-34 victory over the Catalans Dragons in the sweltering heat at the Galpharm Stadium, stating that it had been a game in which he had gone through every emotion.

Sharp commented, "The Catalans are a very good team who made it difficult for us to gain a victory. Defensively I thought they dug in and played for each other. Personally I never lost hope as we had enough pace and skill to come away with a win."

Sharp continued, " We certainly made it difficult for ourselves by gifting them possession, however we showed a lot of character to come back like that at the end. It is the mark of a good side when we can win without playing particularly well."

Paul March, who was carried off near the end of the game with a knee injury, is seeing the specialist and having a scan later today to assess the extent of the damage.

Report thanks to: www.giantsrl.com

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