Hunslet 6 vs 52 Huddersfield Giants
Hunslet exited the Challenge Cup at the hands of Super League Huddersfield Giants for the 2nd Season in a row.
The full-time professional outfit showed too much class early on and were effectively in control inside the first quarter of the match.
On only 2 minutes, Chris Patolo broke a tackle to score, and even though the conversion was missed former Hunslet loanee George Flanagan scored 6 minutes later after a neat inside ball found a gap in the Hunslet defence. 0-10 after only 8 minutes.
The conditions were awful, and the Ref was penalising the home side, but Huddersfield kept on the gas. On 12 minutes after a penalty, Tui Lolohea went over and at 0–16 things got worse for Hunslet when Jack Ward was carried off injured, forcing a personnel change.
A Hail Mary pass out to the wing stuck for Huddersfield and on 21 minutes, Sam Halsall scored in the corner. 0-20.
Although Hunslet had some pressure, they generally tried a kick early in the set handing possession back over to Huddersfield. Nichol and Jowitt had threatened, but on 28 minutes a loose Huddersfield pass bounced luckily and from the hack-on Jacob Gagai touched down. 0-26
The best try came on 36 minutes when a nice ball sent Adam Swift away, whose pace was too much for Hunslet. 0-30 at the break with Flanagan converting 3 tries.
Hunslet needed a good show in the second half or confidence could slip, and they came out not showing as much respect to the Giants. Although Jowitt went close, England international Tom Burgess scored close in on 45 minutes to make it 0-36.
But now Hunslet started to threaten. They played more open football and with Eddie Battye taking on the line they threatened on the left, especially through Myles Harrop.
On 58 minutes, after good pressure, a lively Bailey Aldridge dived over from acting Half-Back. Jowitt converting 6-36
Although O’Donnell added another for the Giants on 64 minutes, the game in the second half was closer.
With George Flanagan leaving the field through an injury, Oliver Russell took over kicking duties, and on 74 minutes he converted a Lolohea try after the half-back had stolen the ball midfield from Lee Gaskell. 6-46.
Hunslet gifted the Giants another try on the hooter, coughing up possession early on and Tristan Powell slid under the sticks. 6-52
It was really a game of have and have not’s as Hunslet battled against a professional full-time side, but on a night of scores like 0-60, 0-110 and 2-98, Hunslet could be proud of some of their performance.
Head Coach Kyle Trout thought his men showed Huddersfield too much respect early on, but liked some of the second half ball handling and shape, but coughing up possession early on to a Super League team with aimless kicks is suicide in these contests.
Bailey Aldridge received the ‘Tricks of the Trade’ sponsors Player of the Match, whilst the Phoenix Bar Supporters Player of the Match went to Myles Harrop.
Hunslet return to League action next week away at Salford, and with Eddie Battye in fine form leading the line and Harrop, Jowitt and Agoro threatening out wide, they should be looking for a first League win.
HUNSLET – Jowitt, Agoro, Watson, Harrop, Nichol, Gaskell, Ward, Hallas, Aldridge, O’Hanlon, Gilmore, Darcy Simpson, Battye, Berry, Foster, Whittel, Elijah Simpson, Carr.
HUDDERSFIELD GIANTS – Flanagan, Swift, Gagai, Milne, Halsall, Lolohea, Russell, Patolo, Woolford, Greenwood, O’Donnel, Hewitt, Powell, Burgess, English, King, Cozza, Rush.
