Match Report

Huddersfield Giants 10 Leeds Rhinos 30

Sunday 10th Februrary 2008

Brian McLennan left out Lee Smith and replaced him with a certain Ryan Hall after making a comment earlier this week that these two would be fighting for the position for each game until he had decided which would land the permanent role. JJB was also back in the squad after his last minute hamstring problem which kept him from playing in last weeks game against Hull KR. Former Salford City Red Luke Robinson was pairing Brown in the half back.

It was clear right from the start of the 80 minutes that at every possible opportunity, the Giants would aim to push Leeds into touch and slowing down the Rhinos as much as possible by slowing down the play the ball.

The Leeds Rhinos fans came in their thousands and sold out the complete stand allocated. Two penalties lead to the try before hooker Matt Diskin kicked a grubber to the in goal area which got touched down by Brent Webb. Kevin Sinfield’s boots were good and the Rhinos had a 6 point lead after the conversion.

The first quarter of the game was full of penalties, this time though Huddersfield’s turn. Their tactics were working well and Leeds started to give away silly mistakes. Ryan Hall was out of position which meant Brent Webb had to run across the field to cover the run but failed to tackle Jensen. Thorman failed to convert and the score was now 6-4 to Leeds.

Leeds were the next to score: On 17, JJB marked his return to Super League with a try after dodging a defender before taking a couple of the opposition over the line with him. Sinfield failed to add the extras available but Leeds regained the lead of 6.

Half way through the first half, Huddersfield Giants came close to scoring a try. Once again, the tactic was to pass the ball to Jensen and hope to get past Ryan Hall. He did, but from nowhere, Brent Webb managed to run cross field, again, but this time he was successful in tackling Jensen.

10 minutes before the teams headed into the Galpharm Stadium tunnel for a 15 minute break, the Giants knocked on and Danny McGuire passed the ball to Ryan Hall who managed to get inside the Giant’s 40 before being tackled. The Rhinos kept the ball alive well in that set of six before McGuire kicked a grubber to the in goal area on the last which Rhinos full back Brent Webb managed to touch down for his second. Sinfield added the 2 and Leeds were now 16-4 ahead, a great lead to take into half time.

But there was more…Ryan Hall ran 60 metres to reach the try line at the other end of the field after a Giants grubber kick went dead in the Leeds half. Diskin took a quick tap and passed inside to Ali Lauitiiti who beautifully offloaded the ball to Ryan Hall who ran the rest of the distance needed to add 4 points to the scoreboard for the Leeds Rhinos. After the conversion took by Sinny, the score leading into halftime was 22-4.

The first try in the second half came in the first 5 minutes when Ryan Hall scored yet another long range try. It came after Hall intercepted a loose pass by a Huddersfield player and then ran the length of the pitch to add yet another 4 to the board at the Galpharm. Sinfield added the extras for 28-4. The game was won.

After consecutive penalties awarded to Huddersfield by Ian Smith, former City Red Luke Robinson managed to find the line. Chris Thorman managed to convert but the Giants were hardly back in the game.

Leeds ran the clock down, not playing to there full capabilities as they knew they had won the game. The Rhinos were just totally controlling the game, doing what they had to just to stop Huddersfield from scoring. On 75, Leeds got awarded a penalty right in front of the sticks facing the Rhinos fans and took the 2 on offer to seal up the game.

Leeds played well this week, although it seems sometimes they are almost being too professional at times and not taking enough chances, but as long as the Rhinos are winning games, we are all happy. At least we know that they can switch in and out of that top gear whenever needed.

At least a quarter of the crowd if not more were only in the stadium because of the free tickets handed out by Huddersfield University, whilst loyal Leeds Rhinos fans had to pay the full price for their tickets, whereas others get theirs for free. But, it does promote the game.

It’s been a great weekend for Leeds. Winning against Huddersfield whilst Saints and Bradford both loose to bottom half opposition.

Match Facts