Gaskell treble gives Giants a flying start

HUDDERSFIELD Giants began their 2019 campaign with a 56-12 win over the Bradford Bulls in a match marked as Michael Lawrence’s testimonial game.

Lee Gaskell topped the scoring charts for the Giants with a hat-trick of tries, while Jordan Tuner, Sebastine Ikahihifo, Alex Mellor, Lewis and Innes Senior, Benjamin Tibbs and Darnell McIntosh each touched down for the Claret and Gold.

In the fourth minute, Dave Chisholm intercepted a wayward Giants pass to score the first try of the game, a try which he converted.

Jordan Turner responded in the 11th minute with a well-worked move for the Claret and Gold, with Turner adding the extras to level the scores at 6-6.

Sebastine Ikahihifo pounced on a loose ball to make the scores 10-6, with Turner converting once again to make it a six-point game after a quarter of an hour.

Jermaine McGillvary, fresh from England duty in the winter, increased the Bulls deficit to 10 after 21 minutes after an eye-catching move carved up the Bradford defence.

In the 27th minute, Alex Mellor found a gap in the Bradford defence to make the scores 20-6.

Three minutes later Gaskell added another try for the Giants and made it a brace in the 34th minute to make the scored 28-6, with the stand-off adding the extras to make the deficit 24 points.

Bradford hit back just before halftime as David Foggin-Johnston finished an excellent move for the Red, Amber and Black, with Chisholm adding the extras to make the scores