Round 2
Huddersfield Giants 10 l. Hull KR 17

2007 engage English Super League Index [Table] [Draw] [Player Stats] [Club Headlines]

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

Hull Kingston Rovers make it two Super League wins on the trot
Mon February 19, 2007
Source: www.hullkr.co.uk

The Robins got their first away game of the Super League campaign off to a strong start, with Jon Goddard being held up over the Giants line only five minutes in.

With the aid of a penalty, the Giants looked to respond, but superb defence stopped Jamahl Lolesi, Chris Thorman and John Skandalis from grounding the ball on consecutive tackles.

The travelling Red and White army didn't have to wait long for their first try on the road, as Chris Chester ploughed through a half-gap before sending Scott Murrell alongside the posts. Morton converted, and the Scotsman added a another two penalties in the space of three minutes. First Ryan Hudson prevented a clean play-the-ball close to his own line, then John Skandalis spoke out of turn to the referee. Chris Thorman earned his side a drop-out with a well-judged restart, but more Rovers great defence forced Matt Gardner into touch.

The Robins were playing simple, error-free rugby, whilst their opponents were becoming increasingly frustrated with procedings, as they were again penalised for dissent after another lost ball, allowing the Red and Whites to dominate field position, and more importantly, the scoreboard. Already leading ten points to nil, the Robins added to their advantage six minutes before the break, when a wide ball from James Webster allowed David Tangata-Toa to spin in a tackle and offload to Ben Cockayne, and the hero of the week before dived over. Morton was once again on target with the kick.

Coach Justin Morgan would have been very happy with his side's display in the first half, but things were spoiled on the half-time hooter, as Stephen Wild profited from some unusually slack defence to touch down. This was the only highlight in the first half from a Giants point of view, as they were made to look very ordinary by a Robins side who looked nothing less than Super League standard in the opening forty minutes.

Half-Time: Huddersfield Giants 4 Hull Kingston Rovers 16

The Robins knew the Giants would come out a different team in the second half, and sure enough, there was a new level of intensity and determination in their performance. But as the game reached the mid-way point in the second period, the scores had not changed, thanks in no small part, to the defence of Danny Ward, who held Robbie Paul up as he was in the act of touching down.

The game had been played in good spirit, but this went out of the window in the fifty-eighth minute, as Iain Morrison and Stuart Jones came to blows. Both were sent to the sin-bin, and the incident was put on report after Morrison alleged that he had been bitten by the Giants forward. With both sides short-handed, it was the home side who profited, with Chris Nero touching down a Brad Drew grubber kick. Thorman converted to bring the Giants to within six points of the Robins, who had their backs thoroughly against the wall.

Fingernails were being bitten all round the ground, but the Red and Whites stayed calm, setting up a drop-goal position, which James Webster duly took to leave the Giants needing two scores in four minutes. This was too big a task against a tenacious and committed Rovers side, who hung on to keep their 100% record intact.

Full-Time: Huddersfield Giants 10 Hull Kingston Rovers 17


Huddersfield: 1. Paul Reilly; 21. Matt Gardner, 13. Stephen Wild, 4. Kevin Brown, 3. Jamahl Lolesi; 6. Chris Thorman (c), 7. Robbie Paul; 16. Keith Mason, 9. Brad Drew, 10. John Skandalis; 11. Chris Nero, 8. Eorl Crabtree, 14. Stuart Jones.

Replacements: 15. Paul Jackson, 18. Darrell Griffin, 19. Ryan Hudson, 20. Steve Snitch.


Hull KR: 1. Ben Cockayne; 21. Luke Dyer, 3. Jon Goddard, 4. Gareth Morton, 5. Byron Ford; 6. Scott Murrell, 7. James Webster (c); 18. Danny Ward, 9. Ben Fisher, 20. Mick Vella; 11. Iain Morrison, 16. Jason Netherton, 28. Chris Chester.

Replacements: 13. Tommy Gallagher, 15. Jim Gannon, 10. David Tangata-Toa, 12. Michael Smith.

Referee: Mr. Ben Thaler

Report source: www.hullkr.co.uk

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