Match report: Giants 6 - 23 St Helens

Feb 23 2009 by Chris Roberts, Huddersfield Daily Examiner

Huddersfield started strongly, with Brett Hodgson giving his side the lead with a fourth-minute penalty before great Saints defence prevented Keith Mason from scoring against his former club.

But when the visitors opened the tryscoring against the run of play through Paul Wellens after 14 minutes the tide began to turn.

Within five minutes Saints were over again when, following a great Long break, Ade Gardner touched down in the opposite corner.

To make matters worse, centre Michael Lawrence was forced to retire after being concussed preventing the Long break.

And nine minutes before the break, more good St Helens approach play gave Lee Gilmour the space to charge through.

Fortunately, Long left his kicking boots at home and failed to add any of the conversions, albeit from wide out, to keep the Giants firmly in the hunt at the interval.

Whatuira’s 45th-minute try did give a great deal of hope.

But in the end it was never nearly enough.

Click here for a gallery of action shots taken pitchside by the Examiner photographers.