Round 21
Huddersfield Giants 26 d. Wakefield Trinity Wildcats 20

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

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

Huddersfield end losing streak
Tue July 18, 2006
Source: www.giantsrl.com

A blistering hot sunny afternoon greeted the teams in a vital West Yorkshire encounter at the Galpharm Stadium, with the Giants looking to end a 4 match losing sequence and restore their top 6 aspirations. Defeat for either side would put them uncomfortably close to the foot of the table. Keith Mason and Wayne McDonald were still missing from the Giants line-up.

The Wildcats quickly got into their stride, taking the ball up strongly and testing the Giants defence and on 9 minutes went ahead. Martin Aspinwall lost possession in his own 20 metre area and from the resultant scrum the powerful David Solomona crashed over for a try, the position having been set up by Jamie Rooney. The latter player added the extras, and 4 minutes later the visitors went further ahead. Paul Reilly was penalised bringing the ball out from his own in-goal area and the Wildcats immediately capitalised, former Giant Paul White crossing in the corner from a Jamie Rooney pass. The latter player again added the extras with an excellent conversion and the Giants trailed by 12 points. The impetus was wholly with the Wildcats, the Giants finding it difficult to get out of their own half, and on 32 minutes there was another try for the Wildcats, Jason Demetriou breaking away from half way before handing on to the supporting Jamie Rooney who crossed between the posts and then added the extras.

A half time lead of 18 points was no more than the Wildcats deserved; they had been almost totally dominant with the Giants struggling to make any real impact on the game. A massive improvement was needed in the second half if the Giants were to get anything out of the match.

The second half did not get off to a good start for the Giants. A penalty on their own 20 being conceded with Jamie Rooney taking full advantage, slotting over the kick to increase the lead to 20 points. On 49 minutes though the Giants at last showed their capabilities, a Brad Drew pass on half way putting Kevin Brown in space for just about the first clean break which the Giants had made in the match, and good support play put Stuart Donlan over in the corner for the Giants first score of the afternoon. Michael De Vere kicked a splendid touchline conversion and suddenly the whole aspect of the game took on a different dimension. Now it was the Giants who were running strongly onto the football and cracks were beginning to appear in the Wildcats defence.

A further 11 minutes had elapsed before the Giants added to their score, Brad Drew being the creator as he astutely switched the point of attack to the blind side, making space for Michael De Vere to squeeze in at the corner. The same player again converted from the touchline and the deficit was down to 8 points. With the Giants supporters now in full voice the Wildcats were looking decidedly shaky and in the space of 2 minutes the Giants had levelled. Martin Aspinwall crossing wide out on 62 and 64 minutes respectively for tries, the first from a Kevin Brown kick and the second when Brad Drew's high bomb was not dealt with by the defence, Drew regathering and providing the pass for the wingman to go in again. Michael De Vere missed with the conversion attempts, but the momentum had switched wholly to the Giants.

On 68 minutes the Giants took the lead, Robbie Paul scorching away from halfwaybefore drawing the fullback and providing the pass which put Steve Snitch in between the posts, Michael De Vere converting. The shell-shocked Wildcats tried manfully to retrieve the position in the last 10 minutes but could not regain the composure which they had in the first half and the Giants ran out improbable winners of a game which had enthralled the supporters, particularly the Giants.

The second half had been a total reversal of the first period; once the Giants got on the score sheet their confidence soared with impressive performances from Brad Drew, Eorl Crabtree and Michael De Vere in particular.

Wildcats coach Tony Smith was crestfallen after the game and pointed to a possible lack of fitness in his players, while Giants coach Jon Sharp pointed to the skill of his players and the character in coming back from a very difficult position.

The result sets up another tremendous encounter at the Galpharm this coming Sunday with the Castleford Tigers the visitors; they have a 1 point advantage over the Giants in the League table.

Report source: www.giantsrl.com

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