HUDDERSFIELD Giants tasted defeat for the first time in 2010 with a bruising defeat at Hull FC.
Much of the damage was done in the opening period as the resurgent Airlie Birds led 12-0 and forced their visitors to defend for their lives as they kept the contest alive.
But that big early defensive effort finally took its toll as the Giants just didn’t have the creative attacking energy in the second half to swing the game in their favour – although it wasn’t through a lack of trying.
Three times in that second 40 minutes, Huddersfield could have argued they should have been awarded tries, and on another day they might have.
But, at the same time, there was no denying that in Hull FC they were up against a side that could have a big say in Super League XV on the back of the signing of Sean Long and the exceptional Craig Fitzgibbon, who ran the black and whites show from start to finish. Because of that, the Giants shouldn’t feel too downhearted.
While Hull were at full strength, Giants coach Nathan Brown was still lacking at least half-a-dozen senior players, which included the late withdrawal of inspirational captain and Man of Steel Brett Hodgson through injury.
That meant Andy Raleigh marking his 200th appearance by leading out the side and Leroy Cudjoe moving to his preferred full-back position.
And without Hodgson’s calming influence, the Giants made a shaky start.
On Hull’s first meaningful attack, the position was created for Danny Tickle to crash over from close range after six minutes
He then added his own goal, and it was already looking apparent Hull’s win at St Helens seven days before was no fluke.
However, it was just as the Giants were threatening to get right back into the game that the home side doubled their advantage.
With Eorl Crabtree making an immediate impact from the bench, the visitors were desperately unlucky not to level the scores after 25 minutes.
On the sixth tackle, Kevin Brown hoisted a high ball to the corner for Jamahl Lolesi to gather and touch down.
But despite the cheers from the Huddersfield fans behind the posts, the ‘try’ was ruled out.
And before the visitors had time to reflect on the merits or otherwise of the decision, their hosts had added the second try.
A sweeping move down the Hull right opened up the Giants defence and Craig Hall was on hand to race 20m and finish strongly in the corner for Tickle to land an excellent touchline conversion.
It seemed harsh in the extreme given the way the men from the Galpharm appeared to have weathered the early storm.
Having said that, such was the weight of Hull’s possession that coach Nathan Brown may well have settled for a 12-0 deficit at the interval.
But, in all truth, that lead should have been just six at half-time as Luke Robinson failed to pass to a supporting teammate with the tryline begging following the scrum half’s wonderful individual break in the 38th minute.
Fortunately, that proved to be a taste of things to come at the start of the second half, with Huddersfield opening strongly.
Click on the icon below for a picture gallery of the match action.
And within four minutes they had struck for the first time.
On the back of receiving a cheap penalty, the Giants took the ball to the line for Robinson to work his magic and create the opportunity for Scott Grix to crash over under the posts for his first try in the claret and gold.
Cudjoe converted and, at 12-6, the visitors were right back in it.
Yet despite the major psychological boost, they failed to gain any significant momentum, and after 55 minutes Tickle landed a straight 40m penalty to calm Hull’s nerves.
It looked as if Huddersfield had reduced the deficit five minutes later when Cudjoe’s long pass to the corner enabled Lolesi to finish superbly, but the ball was ruled forward.
Then six minutes later the Giants were denied by the officials again when David Hodgson collected a loose ball on halfway and raced away to score.
But the touchjudge ruled the ball had been spilt as a result of a Giants’ knock-on on the back of Hull losing possession.
It was a case of deja vu once again in the 73rd minute when Crabtree’s offload on the Hull 20 bounced off a defender and into the path of Brown, who would have scored but referee Thierry Alibert ruled a knock-on, despite the obvious howls of protest.
It just summed up Huddersfield’s day.
