Huddersfield Giants 40-26 Hull FC

Hull FC were finally back in action last night, away Huddersfield Giants. It was nearly a month ago since the two sides last met. That game was the last FC played before an enforced break due to self-isolations and covid restrictions. Hull had been in fine form, with the 17-10 win over the Giants their third straight. Brett Hodgson was still missing several first-teamers and was using the full depth of his squad. Huddersfield have had similar problems going to the loan market in an attempt to gain players.

The first half was a tight affair with Hull striking first. Three minutes in, Ben McNamara, starting in at half-back for Reynolds, with an impressive offload to Savelio who offered an equally good offload to Tuimavave to score. The Giants hit back soon after, McGillvary twisted and crashed over in the corner, followed by a short-range dive over the line from the on-loan hooker Peats. Marc Sneyd’s kicking game was a force of good for Hull throughout the game and it was a Sneyd kick to the corner finding the flying Fijian winger, Mileti Vulikijapani for his first Hull FC try. Another Sneyd kick found Mahe Fonua, Fonua tapped the ball back finding a Jordan Lane for an easy try, giving Hull a lead by 6. On the half-hour mark, a loose ball from a high kick was pounced on by Luke Yates of Huddersfield to score from 10 meters out. Tries in this game seemed to come in twos, two minutes later the hosts regained the lead, young Will Pryce raced through a gap and some good footwork took him home. McGillvary had switched wings during the first half, and it paid off, latching on to a kick from Russell to give the Giants a 22-16 lead at the end of the first period.

Maybe a little unfortunate to be behind by six points at the break Brett Hodgson’s men hoped for a better start to the second half. Sneyd may have been a star performer for the Black and Whites but his opposite number, Oli Russell, was having an exemplary game with his open play kicking. Yet another kick to the corner found McGillvary for his hat-trick on the 50th-minute mark. Hull was down to 12 after Ligi Sao was sent to the sin-bin for a high shot on Hewitt. Even with a man down Hull never gave up, Vulikijapani got his second from an interception to reduce the deficit. It was not to be as Russell came up with another assist to McGillvary. A flighty pass found the winger who cut back inside handing off three Hull men on his way to his fourth try of the evening. Leroy Cudjoe made sure the hosts won the game on his 300th Giants appearance, crashing through a broken FC defensive line. A consolation came in the form of a Chris Satae try, who dragged defenders with him as he touched down. The drama was not yet done. Andre Savelio and former FC team-mate Josh Jones both showed red cards on the final hooter as tempers boiled and fists were raised.

With a full-strength side, the Black and Whites may have been closer contenders second half. However, 40-26 was a fair reflection of the game, Huddersfield came up with the big plays when they needed. Hodgson will hope for more available players for the visit of Leeds Rhinos next Thursday.

Report by: Simon Bromwich

Huddersfield Giants 40 (22)
Tries: McGillvary 4, Peats, Yates, Pryce, Cudjoe. Goals: Russell 4.

Hull FC 26 (16)
Tries: Tuimavave, Vulikijapani 2, Lane, Satae. Goals: Sneyd 3.

Published: 23rd July 2021