Match report: Giants 18 Bradford Bulls 28

Aug 17 2009 by Chris Roberts, Huddersfield Daily Examiner

BULLS HALT GIANTS RUN

IT was a classic case of ‘After the Lord Mayor’s Show’.

After the heroics of their Challenge Cup semi-final success over St Helens last Sunday, the Giants failed to maintain the dizzy heights and slumped to defeat to bring their magnificent seven-match unbeaten run to an end.

There was always a fear after winning last week to reach Wembley on August 29 Huddersfield may find it tough to back up against the Bulls.

And, unfortunately, that proved to be the case as the Giants failed to deliver and were unable to record their first Super League double over their West Yorkshire rivals.

But with the start to the contest the Giants made there was little to suggest there might be any sort of Cup semi-final hangover.

Within two minutes the home side had hit the front with their first attack of the game.

Kevin Brown’s kick to the corner failed to be gathered by the Bulls defence and the Giants took full advantage to set up the position for Brett Hodgson to finish off in style.

The captain landed the conversion and everything appeared to be going to plan.

It should have got even better three minutes later when Liam Fulton kicked ahead to create the opening for Luke Robinson to race away.

But the scrum half was closed down and was unable to find a teammate in the right place to finish off for try No2.

And after that it soon began to go horribly wrong.

By the 15th minute the visitors had drawn level, and by half-time the Bulls had stampeded their way into a thoroughly-deserved 24-6 lead as the exertions of last week’s monumental Cup triumph began to take its toll.

The usual rock-solid Huddersfield defence began to crumble under the pressure and the attack became as flat as pancake.

First to take full advantage of the Giants’ lethargy was Michael Platt who collected Paul Sykes’ ‘bomb’ to the corner to touch down for Paul Deacon to land the first of his four first-half conversions.

Then two minutes after the restart Bradford added their second score, courtesy of former Giants centre Chris Nero.