An unrelenting first half performance earned an important two points for Hull FC as they defeated Huddersfield Giants 31-12 at the Halliwell Jones Stadium this afternoon.
Andy Last’s side ran in five first-half tries, with Albert Kelly, Marc Sneyd, Josh Griffin, Jack Brown and Mahe Fonua all crossing for four-pointers.
The Giants stayed within touching distance of a comeback in a low-scoring second half, but ultimately the deficit was far too large for Huddersfield to mount a successful turnaround.
Team News
Andy Last made five changes to the side that faced Salford Red Devils earlier in August, with Bureta Faraimo, Brad Fash, Jordan Johnstone, Jordan Lane and Joe Cator all coming into the starting line-up.
Danny Houghton and Mahe Fonua began the match on the bench, with youngster Jack Brown called up to the squad after impressing in training.
For Huddersfield, Matty English recovered from a head injury picked up a fortnight ago and started the match in the front row.
The Giants were also without star halfback Aidan Sezer, Ukuma Ta’ai, Lee Gaskell and Aaron Murphy, as well as youngster Innes Senior, who is currently out on loan at Wakefield Trinity.
The Match
Both sides’ defences were put to the test in the opening five minutes of the match, with Kelly having to tidy up a kick into his own in goal area, before almost slicing through at the other end moments later.
As he did at Emerald Headingley three weeks ago, Kelly drew first blood for the Black & Whites. After back-to-back penalties, the pressure took its toll on Huddersfield as the Australian halfback cut through the defence from close range. Sneyd added the extras to give Hull a 6-0 lead after 12 minutes.
It was Kelly’s halfback partner Sneyd who then drew the next blow just over five minutes later. Poor execution from Huddersfield saw them put the ball down on the halfway mark, before the scrum-half picked up to race away and score FC’s second try of the match. Sneyd couldn’t convert his own try.
More ill-discipline from Huddersfield was punished as the match grew a quarter old. Off the back of another penalty, a Sneyd grubber kick was skilfully collected by Griffin as the Black & Whites looked well-and-truly in the mood. Sneyd made no mistake with the conversion this time to make it 16-0.
In defence, Sneyd suffered what appeared to be a serious injury, but Hull ploughed on in ruthless fashion.
Neat hands down the middle of the park gave youngster Jack Brown the space to charge towards the whitewash, and after referral to the video referee, the prop forward was awarded his first try of 2020. Griffin took over the kicking duties in successful fashion, giving FC a promising 22-0 lead.
Fonua made an instant impact after his introduction from the bench, getting on the end of a Kelly grubber kick. Griffin continued his 100% kicking record.
Huddersfield scored their first points of the match just three minutes before half-time. Tom Holmes set up a well-worked try for Ashton Golding and Oliver Russell made no mistake from the kicking tee.
HALF-TIME: Huddersfield 6-28 Hull FC
The first quarter of the second half was the polar opposite of the first half as the score remained 28-6.
Both sides had chances at either ends, but ultimately sloppy errors from the two teams made scoring tries a difficulty.
The first points of the second half went to the Giants. As Hull looked to see out the win, Jamie Shaul put down a high kick, and from the resulting set, former Black & White Jordan Turner crossed the try line. Russell’s successful conversion made it 28-12.
With 16 minutes remaining, Fonua was sent to the sin bin for an ill-judged challenge on Darnell McIntosh, leaving the door ajar for a potential Huddersfield comeback.
However, good game management saw Hull work their way towards the other end of the field and it was there where Chris Kendall awarded the Black & Whites an important penalty just to the left of the sticks. Griffin made no mistake and made the score 30-12.
Shaul crowned a resilient Hull performance with a drop goal from 30 metres out, with just three minutes remaining in the match.
FULL-TIME: Huddersfield 12-31 Hull FC
Squads & Scorers
Hull FC: Jamie Shaul, Ratu Naulago, Carlos Tuimavave, Josh Griffin, Bureta Faraimo, Albert Kelly, Marc Sneyd, Gareth Ellis, Jordan Johnstone, Brad Fash, Jordan Lane, Manu Ma’u, Joe Cator
Hull FC Interchanges: Jack Brown, Mahe Fonua, Danny Houghton, Chris Satae
Hull FC Tries: Kelly, Sneyd, Grffin, Brown, Fonua
Hull FC Goals: Sneyd (2/3), Griffin (3/3), Shaul (DG)
Huddersfield: Ashton Golding, Jermaine McGillvary, Leroy Cudjoe, Jake Wardle, Darnell McIntosh, Oliver Russell, Tom Holmes, Matty English, Adam O’Brien, Suaia Matagi, Kenny Edwards, Jordan Turner, Michael Lawrence
Huddersfield Interchanges: James Gavet, Sam Hewitt, Oliver Wilson, Sam Wood
Huddersfield Tries: Golding, Turner
Huddersfield Goals: Russell (2/2)
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