GIANTS .............. 12 Giants fail to hit

Darnell McIntosh; Jermaine McGillvary, Leroy Cudjoe, Alex Mellor, Aaron Murphy; Danny Brough, Lee Gaskell; Sam Rapira, Kruise Leeming, Seb Ikahihifo, Daler Ferguson, Ukuma Ta’ai, Paul Clough. of course, have been a factor. Yet whatever the reason, it was certainly a disappointing night.In what proved to be something of a see-saw opening period, the Rhinos held the advantage, taking an 18-12 into the break - although outscoring their hosts four tries to two.

Leeds were quickly out of the blocks, looking good as they raced into a 10-0 lead within as many minutes.

Good quick hands enabled Tom Briscoe to cross in the corner, before former Giants forward Brett Ferres kicked through for Ryan Hall win the race to get the touch.

Ash Golding landed that conversion, but it was the only one he managed in the opening 40.

There were no such problems for Danny Brough, however, as he added both of his conversion attempts to take the Giants into the lead by the 21st minute.

First to strike was Ukuma Ta’ai who fell over the tryline after being fed by a strong drive to the line by Lee Gaskell in the 18th minute.

Then, just three minutes later, Huddersfield hit the front when quick hands enabled Jermaine McGillvary to score in the corner.

But the Giants failed to build on their momentum and Leeds added two more tries, in the 25th minute from Carl Ablett, and then Matt Parcell seven minutes before the break when the home defence failed to deal with an Ablett grubber and the hooker took full advantage.

The Giants started the second half in promising fashion and had a ‘try’ chalked off for a knock-on within three minutes of the restart, with a ‘lively’ start reflected when Brough and Ablett were sin-binned for fighting moments later.

With the contest becoming frustratingly scrappy, the second period was instantly forgettable, with a Golding penalty in the 58th minute all the two teams had to show for their ‘efforts’ during that time.

Huddersfield almost reduced the deficit in the 63rd minute, but Darnell McIntosh was held up over the line on top of a whole pile of bodies following a high kick.

Tries from Zeb Taia, Jack Owens and Adam Swift, plus three goals