Huddersfield Giants 22-16 Hull FC
Two late tries from Huddersfield hooker Davy Levi saw the Black & Whites fall to a gutting 22-16 defeat in West Yorkshire.
Hull led until the 74th minute of the game, but the late brace from the Giants hooker saw the Round 22 clash ultimately end in defeat for Brett Hodgson’s side, despite being defensively impressive in spells. Tries from Jack Walker and Connor Wynne saw Hull lead at the break, with Ellis Longstaff extending Hull’s advantage after half-time, but a late surge from Ian Watson’s side saw Hull’s hopes dashed.
Brett Hodgson made three changes to the team that beat Toulouse last time out, with the returning Chris Satae, Joe Lovodua and Connor Wynne coming straight back into the side after injury, illness and suspension respectively.
That meant that Harvey Barron, Mitieli Vulikijapani and Jordan Johnstone were the unlucky players to make way. Will Smith continued in the halves with Jake Connor named on the teamsheet at right centre, but given license to roam when Hull were attacking the Giants goalline.
Despite some relief coming in the form of the returning players, Hodgson was still without as many as nine senior players, including Ligi Sao, Manu Ma’u and Josh Griffin.
Ian Watson welcomed back Tui Lolohea and Leroy Cudjoe to his team after both players missed the Giants comeback victory over Warrington Wolves last week.
They replaced the suspended Olly Russell and Matty English who dropped out of the side, with former Hull player Josh Jones moving back to his customary position at left back row from centre and Will Pryce moving from full back to stand off.
In a tense first half Brett Hodgson would have been much the happier of the two coaches, as Hull went in at the break with a 10 – 0 lead.
The Black & Whites started with a bang, as Jack Walker crossed for the games opening try in the first five minutes.
Hull won the arm wrestle in the opening exchanges and made the most of their territory. Will Smith kicked infield on the last tackle for Scott Taylor who couldn’t quite get to the ball, but forced a knock on from Tui Lolohea. On the first play from the scrum the Black & Whites moved the ball wide and Will Smith picked the right option in Jack Walker to dive over in the corner after a brief scare as he juggled the ball!
Huddersfield perhaps had the better of the rest of the first half, forcing three goal line drop outs, but Hull’s defence was more than up to the task with only Luke Yates really testing the Hull line five minutes before the break, but he was held up by good work from Ellis Longstaff and Will Smith.
The next play for Huddersfield was a kick for a seven tackle set, and Hull made that extra play count.
Luke Gale recognised space on the Hull left, sending a long pass wide to Jordan Lane who found a half break and passed to Jack Walker to continued the march towards the line, before an offload to Danny Houghton. Houghton’s pass to Connor Wynne was inch perfect, and the youngster crossed on his return from suspension.
In the celebrations Will Smith was adjudged to have pushed a Huddersfield player off the ball and was sent to the sin bin, before Luke Gale nailed his conversion from the touchline.
Read the full report here.
Huddersfield Giants 22 (0)
Tries: Lolohea, Fages, Levi (2). Goals: Pryce (3).
Hull FC 16 (10)
Tries: Walker, Wynne, Longstaff. Goals: Gale (2).