Huddersfield Giants threw away a massive 24-6 interval advantage and conceded two converted tries in the last three minutes to be held by Hull KR in the most dramatic fashion.
With the game entering its final stages and the home side leading 24-12, it looked as if the League points were in the bag – albeit on the back of a far from convincing second-half showing.
But just as the Giants looked to have wrapped things up, Josh Hodgson and Omari Caro pounced to score tries, with Travis Burns landing two conversions to levels the scores.
It was an unbelievable finish to such a bizarre contest, in which the Giants went from first-half world beaters to second-half has-beens.
To be honest, the performance couldn’t have been in sharper contrast to their opening-night triumph at champions Wigan 16 days earlier.
Although there was one early scare when the Robins forced a fifth-minute Giants’ drop-out, Huddersfield were the dominant power throughout the opening half, and deservedly led 24-6 at the interval.
Within three minutes the hosts had made their presence felt, with Aaron Murphy denied a try by a knock-on on halfway.
But by the 11th minute the Giants had hit the front for the first time,
A strong Jermaine McGillvary midfield burst forced Rovers onto the back foot and the ball was quickly whipped to the left for Danny Brough to nip over, although too far out for him to add the conversion in the blustery conditions.
He made no mistake thee minutes later, however, with try No2.
Brett Ferres made it all possible with an outstanding offload in the tackle to allow Joe Wardle, Murphy and Scott Grix to combine to sent Luke Robinson racing over. Within moments, the home side were reduced to 11 men and Rovers 12 when Jason Chan and Justin Poore were first sin-binned for their part in an all-in brawl and then Wardle was shown the yellow card for holding down Kris Welham after a marvellous trysaving track-back.
But despite the lack of numbers it didn’t prevent the Giants from extending their lead when neat play from Chris Bailey created the opening for Kyle Wood to stretch out and score from acting half.
Brough again goaled and it was 16-6.
Rovers reduced the deficit to 10 points in the 32nd minute through Caro’s try and Travis Burns’ touchline conversion, while Hodgson twice lost the ball over the line during his side’s best spell.
But Huddersfield finished strongly with a Brough penalty followed by Robinson’s second converted try on the back of an Ukuma Ta’ai barnstorming run.
Hull KR started the second half brightly with a close-range Jordan Cox try and Burns conversion three minutes after the re-start.
As the game progressed, the Giants settled back into the contest, with the likes of Wardle and Ferres setting the tone with some great left-flank work on attack and defence.
So it was a little disappointing that Ferres had a ‘try’ disallowed on the hour mark after being ruled offside collecting Robinson’s grubber.
Good Giants tryline defence denied Cox a second try with 13 minutes remaining as Rovers continued to prove a threat.
And with two minutes remaining, Hodgson finally made an effort count by pouncing on a loose ball for a third converted try.
Then almost straight from the kick-off Greg Eden raced clear and fed Caro to finish off just seconds before the final hooter sounded, with Burns holding his kicking nerve.
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