Match Report | Leeds Rhinos

Huddersfield Giants lost 6-34 to Leeds Rhinos on Thursday night.

After a huge win against Salford Red Devils in their last outing, the Giants took to the field aiming to make it back-to-back super league wins and a league double against visitors Leeds Rhinos.

It was a scrappy start for the Giants as Ash Handley touched down for his 13th try of the campaign following a high ball in the corner and a lengthy video review by the referee.

The Giants went through the next few minutes in impressive fashion, showing excellent intuition and defensive toughness. These included two late-game tackles from Matty English, whose efforts lifted the crowd while keeping the Rhinos at bay.

Rightfully so, the Giants got on the board soon after and it was home hero Aidan McGowan who sealed his first try for the Giants. McGowan blocked Handley’s clearance off the floor off a Giants low kick before tracking down and securing the bounce ball for four points. An outstanding shot from the lane by Jake Connor tied the score at 6-6.

The video referee was again called into action, however this time it was shown ‘no try’ as the Rhinos were denied a second try of the game due to the double move.

Continuing their impressive spell, the Giants looked increasingly formidable.

Called into the field was youngster Fenton Rogers, whose succession of powerful shots and powerful carries delighted the Cowbell Army.

The Giants almost had their reward as a prolonged build-up of pressure, paired with silky hands, led to Elliot Wallis landing acrobatically in the corner. Although it was the Giants’ turn to be stopped by the video umpire, who declared the ball in contact, ending the celebrations.

The Rhinos took full advantage of this and secured a try at the other end just moments later following a handling error from Jake Connor.

In quick succession, the Rhinos had another score to their name. A breakaway after a controversial tackle challenge led to Matt Frawley landing near the posts.

Rhyse Martin made 3/3 from the tee which made the half-time score Giants 6-18 Leeds Rhinos after a well contested physical first half.

The second half started in the same intense fashion, with both teams playing as well as each other.

The Giants had their first major chance of the half as Jake Bibby was blocked at the end of a fantastic finishing move.

Despite their best efforts, it was the visitors who struck first in the second half as Ash Handley scored his second of the game in the far corner after a team had gone over the line in the very first hour.

The following passages of play involved the Giants trying their hardest to hold firm, but eventually the line was broken by Brodie Croft. The Giants were putting on a gutsy, hard-working performance, but it just wasn’t enough on this night.

Lachie Miler’s blistering try and yellow cards to both Sam Lisone and Adam Milner at the end of tonight’s contest which ended with the Giants 6-34 Leeds Rhinos.

A tough pill to swallow for Robinson’s men, but many positives were mixed in, including the phenomenal effort put in by all players.

The Cowbell Army will be looking to right their wrongs next week as they take on Wigan Warriors.

Giants squad: Connor, Wallis, Halsall, Naiqama, McGowan, Lolohea, Clune, Hill, Milner, English, Jake Bibby, Cudjoe, Rushton

Subs: Golding, Russell, Salabio, Rogers, Jack Bibby

Try: McGowan

Goals: Connor

Leeds Rhinos squad: Miler, Edgell, Momirovski, Newman, Handley, Croft, Frawley, Oledzki, Ackers, Esel Jr, McDonnell, Martin, Smith

Subs: O’Connor, Lisone, Donaldson, Bentley, Sinfield

Tries: Handley x2, Newman, Frawley, Croft, Miler

Goals: Martin x5

Attendance: 4923

By James Devine | Photo credit Darren Greenhalgh