Match Report: Leeds Rhinos 20 Giants 12
Leeds then ‘bombed’ a great chance of their own when Donald dropped the ball with a clear run to the corner before Huddersfield took the lead after 33 minutes.
Great approach play forced the Leeds defence onto the back foot and Brown’s superb cut-out pass put David Hodgson over in the corner.
Brett Hodgson converted and the visitors’ hard work had been rewarded.
In the closing stages of the opening half, Luke Burgess and Donald for a second time squandered fantastic openings, and it looked as if this might just be Huddersfield’s day.
And that was reinforced within two minutes of the restart when on the Giants’ first attack Brown collected 10m from the hosts line and stepped through with ease for Hodgson to and goal No2.
Unfortunately for Brown’s brave boys, Leeds’ response couldn’t have been more champion-like.
Within minutes, the Rhinos had forced two goalline drop-outs from which Keith Senior fed Watkins for the simplest of scores.
Kevin Sinfield landed the touchline conversion, and the hosts were right back in it.
More chances then went begging, albeit two for either side, before Leeds embarked on their late and decisive victory charge.
In-form Kiwi prop Kylie Leuluai made it all possible, somehow forcing his sizeable bulk over the line with a crowd of bodies around him.
Sinfield goaled, it was 12-12 with 12 minutes remaining.
And four minutes later, the home side were ahead for the first time – in far from satisfactory circumstances.
Only struggling French referee Thierry Alibert will know why he penalised the Giants for holding down Brent Webb. But the decision was given, and Sinfield did the rest.
With the Giants now chasing the game, they were forced to throw caution to the wind.
In the 77th minute and with the visitors inside the Leeds 20, Brett Hodgson collected the on the fifth tackle and threw out a long pass in a bid to put his side over in the corner.
But Watkins read the play and outpaced the cover to score a third converted try and break Giants hearts.
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