The BBC screened Huddersfield Giants v Leeds Rhinos yesterday afternoon, and we saw a terrific contest and a great advert for our game. Champions Leeds, who seem to have made a habit in recent years of getting to the final and then losing, were a tough nut to crack for the Giants, but this Huddersfield side seems to have the steel to not fade away and flatter to deceive as they have done in recent seasons. With a strong-ish wind at their backs in the first half, the Giants, helped by Danny Brough's adroit kicking game, looked a real handful, and came through at half-time with a well-merited 16-4 lead.
The only question then was, was a twelve point lead sufficient? Warning bells sounded when the Rhinos encamped themselves on the Huddersfield try-line at the start of the second half, aided by some unforced errors by the Giants. However, the Giants' defence stood firm, conceding only one try in the second half, to the excellent Kallum Watkins. The Leeds centre was not to be outdone, however, by his opposite number from Huddersfield, as Leroy Cudjoe scored two fine tries himself. I'd like to see both of them in the England side. So despite having a man sent off (for punching, which I guess wouldn't happen (yet) in the NRL), Huddersfield ran out convincing winners by 24 points to 8.
On the sending off, to be fair, it wasn't just a case of 'handbags', but of four or five heavy punches to the head, un-retaliated. It has been the practice this season in the ESL that punches to the head result in a red, so the ref had little option yesterday in terms of consistency.
The only question then was, was a twelve point lead sufficient? Warning bells sounded when the Rhinos encamped themselves on the Huddersfield try-line at the start of the second half, aided by some unforced errors by the Giants. However, the Giants' defence stood firm, conceding only one try in the second half, to the excellent Kallum Watkins. The Leeds centre was not to be outdone, however, by his opposite number from Huddersfield, as Leroy Cudjoe scored two fine tries himself. I'd like to see both of them in the England side. So despite having a man sent off (for punching, which I guess wouldn't happen (yet) in the NRL), Huddersfield ran out convincing winners by 24 points to 8.
On the sending off, to be fair, it wasn't just a case of 'handbags', but of four or five heavy punches to the head, un-retaliated. It has been the practice this season in the ESL that punches to the head result in a red, so the ref had little option yesterday in terms of consistency.
