Huddersfield Giants moved a step closer to creating history as victory at The Stoop took them to within one win of ensuring they top the Super League table at the end of the season.
However, if they do go on to achieve their first table-topping campaign for 81 years, this clash in the capital will not go down as one of the memorable matches of that journey.
The Giants essentially did just enough to take the two points that they so craved.
Admittedly, they were never really suffering galloping squeaky bum syndrome, but equally they never totally bossed this contest.
Their task was not straightforward either as they faced a Broncos outfit who went into the game with very mixed emotions.
This was probably London’s last game at The Stoop and certainly the last for eight members of their squad – so it was a huge farewell.
There was a hunger to bow out in style, but the Broncos were aiming to achieve that with a side seriously weakened due to injuries.
And due to the machinations that have dogged a complex season off the field, they started with only three players on the pitch who had been in their first-choice team for their opening game of the season – starkly illustrating the lack of consistency and continuity that has led to London being pretty much anchored to the bottom of the table all term.
However, this experimental band of Broncos wanted to repay their fans who, however few, cannot be faulted for their faithfulness and fervour.
Just to add to the unpredictable mix the rain began to fall five minutes before kick-off and handling became something of a lottery.
The Giants gained the early lead they wanted after five minutes when a neat kick from skipper Danny Brough opening the way for winger Aaron Murphy to score in the corner and Brough added the goal.
However, the rest of the first half was scrappy to say the least.
Just after the quarter hour the Giants faced a string of three penalties on their own line, but more than made up for the errors that had conceded possession with a fantastic defensive stint that blunted the Broncos’ hopes.
Five minutes before half-time tempers frayed and Broncos’ Matt Cook and Giants’ Ukuma Ta’ai, who had been on the pitch for only a handful of minutes, were sent to the sin-bin for their part in the fracas.
The Giants we desperate to add to their tally before the interval and on 39 minutes they came close when Brough sent second rower Brett Ferres bursting for the line, but in forcing his way over he was pulled up by referee George Stokes for leading with the shoulder – certainly a decision that was worth contesting!
However, it was not too long into the second period that the frustration of Ferres having a try chalked off was consigned to history.
Seven minutes into the half Ta’ai, who had only just returned from the sin-bin, powered his way over the line and Brough added his second goal.
The captain was on target again on 53 minutes when second rower Michael Lawrence made a telling break and worked the ball free to pack partner Eorl Crabtree who was on hand to race over the line.
The contest at that point looked to be settled, and in truth it was, but London at least gave their fans something to shout about with two tries on the hour and then 72 minutes.
Both came courtesy of slips by the Giants defence and they were lapses that they will not want to repeat.
The first saw the Giants attempt to break out quickly from a scrum near their own line, but their haste saw the ball go to ground on the left flank and James Woodburn-Hall scooped up the ball to score.
Jamie Soward added the goal and was on target again to cut the lead to six points after Jermaine McGillvary did not react quickly enough to a kick through and Alex Hurst was on hand to grab the Broncos second try.
So the Giants were left with eight minutes to hang on to their lead, but they saw the game out in relative comfort.
The cushion was provided by Scott Grix, who took over the kicking duties after skipper Brough had been led off the field with a head injury. The full-back landed a calming penalty.
And the insurance was added in the final minute as Kyle Wood created the platform from which Dale Ferguson managed to stride over the line at the posts, before Grix tacked on his second goal.
The upshot is that the Giants now need only one win from their remaining West Yorkshire derbies at home to Wakefield or away to Bradford – and in whichever game that victory arrives, it is bound to be a more memorable success than this triumph.
