Match Report: Huddersfield Giants 30 Celtic Crusaders 12

Jul 12 2010 by Chris Roberts, Huddersfield Daily Examiner

HUDDERSFIELD celebrated the news head coach Nathan Brown will be staying until the end of next season by returning to winning ways against Crusaders.

After last week’s mauling at Castleford Tigers, the Giants were desperate to make amends against the men from Wrexham.

And although the performance may not have been the greatest in the world, with patches of brilliance punctuated by moments of mistake madness, this 11th success of the season was very well received.

With six games of the regular Super League season remaining, the sixth-placed Giants are now six points clear of Bradford Bulls, who are one place away from a top-eight play-off spot.

Surely, that should be enough to guarantee their involvement in the end-of-season scrap for a place in the Super League Grand Final at Old Trafford?

And with Brown confirming he will remain at the Galpharm helm until the end of 2011, Huddersfield know they face a period of some stability.

The respect the Giants have for their head coach is already well known, and there was no question his players looked fired-up early on against the Crusaders, having clearly been boosted by the news the Australian is staying.

But their initial cause wasn’t helped by a combination of dogged Crusaders play and the refereeing of James Child.

The Dewsbury official twice penalised the hosts for playing the ball incorrectly and also came down hard on the offsides.

They were unlucky not to take the lead after 15 minutes when David Hodgson almost collected Kevin Brown’s kick for a score.

But there was no mistake five minutes later when good approach play paved the way for Shaun Lunt to step superbly through heavy traffic close to the line to touch down.

Brett Hodgson added the goal and the Giants looked to be on the way.