Match report: Giants 4 - Salford City Reds 24

May 18 2009 by Chris Roberts, Huddersfield Daily Examiner

HUDDERSFIELD Giants’ super season well and truly hit a low point with a sorry excuse of a performance against Salford City Reds at the Galpharm.

After doing so many great things to deservedly earn fourth spot in Super League, the Giants hit the self-destruct button to hand their lowly visitors the game on a plate.

Their performance was flat from start to finish, with the amount of errors they made making it almost impossible to mount a serious challenge.

And their grateful opponents just lapped it up!

While Huddersfield were disjointed and seemingly devoid of any ideas as soon as they got anywhere near the Reds’ tryline, Salford made the most of the limited chances that came their way – chances presented to them by their generous hosts.

The visitors’ first try came after the Giants had failed to find touch from a penalty, the second after the home side had been penalised in a promising position, the third from an intercept and the fourth from a scrum after a very straightforward knock-on.

On top of that, Salford also deserve credit for the way they played.

While Huddersfield made 17 errors, the City Reds made just five, and the defensive effort of coach Shaun McRae’s men was also of the highest order.

In fact, the way Salford played to earn only their fourth League victory of the season was so reminiscent of the way Nathan Brown’s side had started the season.

They worked incredibly hard for each other throughout, and tackled as if their lives depended on it.

And, clearly, if the Giants wish to come out of their mini slump sooner rather than later they need to get back to the values on show from the victors.

But, first of all, cutting out the errors has to be the No1 priority.

Within four minutes, Huddersfield were making costly schoolboy errors that played straight into their opponents’ hands.

Kevin Brown failed to find touch from a penalty, and within a couple of plays John Wilshere was plunging over in the corner to dish out the maximum punishment.