Round 25
Huddersfield Giants 20 l. Les Catalans Dragons 22

2008 engage English Super League Index [Table] [Draw] [Player Stats] [Club Headlines]

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

Catalans clinch home final
Mon August 18, 2008
Source: www.superleague.co.uk

Catalans Dragons clinched a home tie in the engage Super League play-offs, by coming from behind to secure a tense 22-20 victory in front of a bumper crowd of 12,127 at Huddersfield Giants.

The Dragons, who had taken just a point from their previous three matches, trailed for most of the match and did not take the lead until Thomas Bosc landed a penalty 10 minutes from the end.

Stand-off Adam Mogg was the Dragons' hero with two tries, the second of which finally ended the Giants' resistance and dashed any lingering play-off hopes.

Huddersfield chairman Ken Davy's decision to allow free admission to hear his announcement of cut-price season tickets paid off, with stewards forced to open up a third side of the Galpharm Stadium for the club's second-highest attendance of the season.

For long periods of the match, they looked set to witness a fourth successive win by Huddersfield - who took the lead after only six minutes.

Right winger Martin Aspinwall timed his run to perfection to touch down a grubber kick from centre Kevin Brown, and the Giants thought they had scored again when Dragons winger Justin Murphy fumbled Luke Robinson's stabbed kick - but slow-motion replays showed a knock-on by centre Paul Whatuira.

Catalans were slow starters but drew level on 19 minutes when Murphy made amends for his earlier blunder by taking Mogg's long pass to squeeze over at the corner.

But Hodgson then swooped on full-back Clint Greenshields' intended pass for Murphy and showed a clean pair of heels on a 90-metre sprint to the line.

Chris Thorman missed his second conversion attempt but slotted over a penalty to make it 10-4, only for the visitors to draw level a minute later.

Steady drizzle caused a series of handling errors, and it was from a skewed pass by Huddersfield second-rower Andy Raleigh that Dragons hooker Aaron Gorrell went in for his side's second try.

Thomas Bosc kicked his first goal to tie the scores. But Thorman edged his side ahead with a second penalty three minutes before the break - and then added a third on 52 minutes to make it 14-10.

The match became a midfield war of attrition in the increasingly difficult conditions. But the Catalans demonstrated their ability to score from long range when Greenshields broke out of defence and sent the supporting Mogg over for his side's third try.

Bosc's conversion attempt rebounded off a post, leaving the scores locked a 14-14. But Huddersfield regained the lead on the hour when Thorman's wayward pass wrongfooted the visitors defence, and substitute Danny Kirmond jinked his way over for a try.

However, the scores were level for a fourth time on 65 minutes when the ever-dangerous Mogg jinked his way over for his second try - to which Bosc added the conversion.

Robinson's drop-goal attempt was wide, before Bosc put the Dragons in front for the first time on 70 minutes with a penalty after Stuart Jones had been pulled up for a foul tackle on John Wilson.

Report Source: www.superleague.co.uk


Purtill excited by 'Free Admission' offer
Sat August 16, 2008
Source: www.giantsrl.com

Huddersfield Giants joint Head Coach Kieron Purtill admits he is excited by the clubs decision to offer FREE ADMISSION FOR ALL for the clash with the Catalans Dragons (Saturday 7.30pm Kick Off), and revealed that the players and coaching staff are as much in the dark as anyone else with regards to Ken Davy's 'historic' announcement at half-time.

"We are hoping for a big turn out and that people come down due to the free entry offer. I think it's a great opportunity not only for Giants fans but for the general Rugby League fan, it is great when we play in front of a big crowd which we have done a couple of times this year. The boys get a real buzz off it and it should be an exciting game. With regards to the announcement, there's not only interest from outside, there is interest from inside the club as well. A lot of the staff and the players are talking about it and there are a lot of rumours flying around. I'm sure the interest is building amongst fans and all will be revealed at half-time."

Purtill insists that his Giants squad are focused on the task in hand however, with 3rd place Catalans Dragons assured of a top 6 finish they will be arriving at the Galpharm Stadium looking to build momentum ahead of their Grand Final assault. With the Giants just 3 points away from 6th place Bradford Bulls, the claret and gold also have a chance to sneak into the play off places with just 3 rounds remaining.

"Its important to us to carry on this winning run, there is momentum building and we are at the business end of the season now. We are looking forward to getting back to the Galpharm where we have been pretty good all year to be honest. There's going to be a real buzz about the place on Saturday."

The Giants are bouncing at the moment, displaying great away form in recent weeks to dispose of Wigan, Castleford and Hull FC and record 3 successive away victories, with Purtill insistent the form has been built on a steely defensive attitude.

"I think the big difference in the last 3 weeks with our away games has been our ability to stay in the game and defend really well. We've had to defend for large spells of the games at times and we have done that. We have come through the other side and still pushed, supported each other and created tries at the other end of the pitch. It's about fitness and energy- we have played for the full 80 minutes and that has been a big factor over the last 3 weeks."

Despite the fact that the Giants are hot on the tails of the play off places, Purtill believes that his troops are taking one game at a time and focusing on the visit of Mick Potters side, and not on other results.

"We have just got to concentrate on what we are doing. We need to do the little things we have been doing over the last 3 weeks, and take one game at a time. Once we have got Catalans out of the way, we will look forward to the next one. The boys are working hard and we will continue to work hard."

FAIUMU RELISHING HOME DEBUT
After impressing in his first Giants appearance in Sunday's fantastic 30-24 win at the KC Stadium over Hull FC, New Zealand International David Faiumu spoke to giantsrl.com to reveal he is relishing the prospect of pulling on the claret and gold jersey for the first time in front of his home fans.

"I can't wait; I've heard all the stories about how fanatical our supporters can be, and how awesome the Giants fans are. I can't wait to see it for myself and enjoy the atmosphere. I've represented New Zealand here at the Galpharm Stadium before and it's a beautiful stadium. Sunday's game was a tough tussle for us, I just want to get out there and get stuck in. Hopefully I will bring a bit of spark to the team and I'm glad that I did that with the help of others on Sunday. My first time being a Giant was a good experience."

Faiumu endured a long wait prior to joining the Giants due to red tape delaying his arrival in England, however he insists he has been made to feel very welcome and has good first impressions of his new club.

"My first impressions have been very positive. They are a great set of lads and very jovial, there are no individuals and no big heads and that's what you need at a club. I've really enjoyed it so far and they have helped me settle in well. It's been good being around the boys, finally getting to meet them and getting to know them on a personal level both individually and as a group. The coaching staff have been great and the people in the office have helped me out with my accommodation, the whole club has been good to me and it's been a great experience so far."

With 3 matches of the regular season remaining, Faiumu is looking to make his mark on the Giants side and look to build an understanding with the players around him from his dummy-half role.

"I think for the remainder of the season I'd like to get a bit of game time and try and learn how the other boys play. Hopefully they will get to know my game for the future so collectively we can get to know how we can work together. I'm looking forward to seeing how the team structure works and how every individual plays and I think that will be beneficial for me and the team. I'm going to take it week by week and finish off on a good note. I want to play consistently and ensure I'm very sound defensively. We have got a good team here with a good structure in place and I think we will do well."

News Source: www.giantsrl.com

Tue August 12, 2008
• Free Entry for all at Huddersfield v Catalans
  

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