Round 22
Huddersfield Giants 42 d. Les Catalans Dragons 22

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

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

Huddersfield powers back into play-off contention
Mon August 6, 2007
Source: www.superleague.co.uk

Shane Elford and Stephen Wild both scored twice as Huddersfield powered back into play-off contention with a third straight win.

Centre Elford scored two quick first-half tries and Wild, in commanding form throughout at loose forward, dived over either side of the break.

The Giants were 28-6 ahead at the interval thanks to a five-try blitz against a poor Catalans side and they went on to register a first home win since May with ease.

Huddersfield had slipped out of the play-off picture following five defeats in six games - but wins against Wakefield and Harlequins rekindled their season.

They are now firmly back in the frame for a top-six finish for the first time in the Super League era thanks to this latest win.

Rod Jensen, signed from North Queensland Cowboys in June, put the Giants on their way inside five minutes by dashing 80 metres to score his first try for the club with a fine solo effort.

Darrell Griffin also dived over for his first Huddersfield try soon after.

Elford, twice, and Wild, who held off three defenders on the line to touch down, then went over the increase the home side's lead.

It got worse for the Challenge Cup finalists Catalans on 22 minutes when Clint Greenshields was sin-binned for persistent holding down in the tackle.

The second period was not as one-sided. Wild doubled up with a fine solo effort on 42 minutes, but Catalans had a greater share of the possession and added two tries in three minutes midway through the half.

Touchdowns from Alex Chan and Adam Mogg, both converted by Stacey Jones, led a brief Dragons revival after Jason Croker got them off the mark in the first half.

But any chance of the visitors making a stunning comeback were snuffed out when Greenshields was sin-binned for a second time on 70 minutes, this time for interfering with play.

Chris Thorman, who kicked seven goals and is one of Super League's top point scorers, completed victory for Huddersfield late on with a solo try.

But Younes Khattabi had the last word for Catalans with a late touchdown watched by just 4,319 fans - Huddersfield's lowest attendance of the season.

Report source: www.superleague.co.uk

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