A disappointing display from the Black and Whites saw the Giants take the win back to West Yorkshire on Saturday afternoon.
A Lewis Martin hat-trick was not enough for John Cartwright’s side to get over the line, with the hosts second-best throughout the contest.
Team News
John Cartwright made three changes to the side that travelled to the Brick Community Stadium a week ago.
Amir Bourouh returned after missing the Wigan match through head injury protocols, whilst Sam Eseh returned after being ineligible to play against his parent club.
Liam Watts started from the bench in his first MKM Stadium appearance in Black and White since 2018.
Brad Fash, Will Hutchinson and Matty Laidlaw all dropped out of the side, with Laidlaw lining up as 18th Man.
The Match
FC had an early opportunity with a full set inside the visitors half. A testing kick from Sezer was knocked on by Swift, allowing Hull to keep the pressure on and they nearly made it count. The ball was laid off by Martin to Litten beautifully, but he was forced out of play in the act of scoring.
The Giants had their first chance a few minutes later. Lolohea attempted a kick behind the defensive line early in the set, but Sezer scooped up the loose ball with ease.
Huddersfield didn’t take too long to get back on the front foot, and this time they had their try. The ball was shipped wide to the left edge where an overlap developed and Adam Swift scored the opening try. Flanagan knocked over the conversion.
Cartwright’s side responded brilliantly by forcing a drop out just before the twenty-minute mark. A flat pass was sent Aydin’s way but he couldn’t take it in and the chance went begging for FC. Rapana was stopped a few metres short on the next set as Hull looked to level the scores.
Hull’s pressure finally told a few sets later with a great team try. Moving from right to left, the ball found its way to Davy Litten, who held his pass perfectly to set Lewis Martin away for a try. Charles’ conversion was just off target.
After the try, Huddersfield began to pile pressure back on the FC line. English knocked on a few metres short but on their next attempt with five minutes to go in the half, they made no mistake. Frawley kicked towards the charging Greenwood who was fastest to the ball and scored the try. Flanagan added the extras.
Luke Robinson’s men had another on the brink of half time. Bibby was quickest to react to a loose ball and ran over fifty metres without being caught to slide in for the try. Flanagan converted the try.
Half-Time: Hull FC 4-18 Huddersfield Giants
FC started the half quite positively, turning the ball over in the right areas of the pitch but without really fashioning an opportunity.
It took a piece of Sezer magic to turn the screw for the first time in the half. A break down the centre of the field from the halfback got Hull into a brilliant position, before the ball was quickly shipped wide to Harvey Barron who thought he’d scored, but was denied by the video referee.
With half an hour to go, a coming together of the players brought a stoppage to play but no further action was taken.
The visitors had two straight sets on Hull’s line a few minutes later but they couldn’t find a route over the whitewash with the defence standing up to the challenge. However, on the third time of asking, a quick passage of play saw George Flanagan dart through a hole in the line to score. Flanagan converted his own try.
A huge break from Jack Ashworth helped the Black and Whites into a position of promise straight off the back of the try. After three repeat sets attacking the Giants line, the hosts made it count, with the ball quickly being sent through the hands to Lewis Martin who got his second try of the afternoon. Jack Charles added the extras.
The Giants quickly turned their defence into attack and had their fifth try of the afternoon with fifteen minutes to go. Tui Lolohea received the ball, before stepping back inside and round a few players to score. Flanagan converted the try.
A piece of magic saw Hull FC score their third of the afternoon next. An early kick was taken in by Lewis Martin, who passed back inside to Davy Litten, who wrongfooted the defender and then sent Martin away for his hat trick. The conversion was unsuccessful.
The Black and Whites nearly had a late consolation try through Harvey Barron, but Swift and Bibby were quickest to the ball to concede a drop out.
Full Time: Hull FC 14-30 Huddersfield Giants
The Squads and Scorers
Hull FC: Zak Hardaker, Harvey Barron, Jordan Rapana, Davy Litten, Lewis Martin, Jack Charles, Aidan Sezer, Herman Ese’ese, Cade Cust, Liam Knight, Jed Cartwright, Jack Ashworth, Yusuf Aydin.
Hull FC Interchanges: Tom Briscoe, Amir Bourouh, Sam Eseh, Liam Watts.
Hull FC 18th Man: Matty Laidlaw.
Hull FC Tries: Martin (26, 61, 71)
Hull FC Conversions: Charles (62)
Huddersfield Giants: George Flanagan, Adam Swift, Jake Bibby, Taane Milne, Jacob Gagai, Tui Lolohea, Matt Frawley, Fenton Rogers, Zac Woolford, Tristan Powell, Harry Rushton, Joe Greenwood, Leroy Cudjoe.
Huddersfield Giants Interchanges: Tom Burgess, Ashton Golding, Matty English, George King.
Huddersfield Giants 18th Man: Kieran Rush
Huddersfield Giants Tries: Swift (14), Greenwood (34), Bibby (38), Flanagan (55), Lolohea (65)
Huddersfield Giants Conversions: Flanagan (15, 35, 39, 57, 66)
Attendance, sponsored by Garbutts: 10,665
Rowe Freight Man of the Match: Lewis Martin
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