Fixtures

 

Tries from Ade Gardner, Matt Gidley and Francis Meli eradicated a ten-point deficit to give Mick Potter’s men their first win in three.

 

Saints were hit by a Huddersfield double within the first six minutes as Shaun Lunt and Leroy Cudjoe went over to hand them a 10-0 lead.

 

Sean Long inspired an Ade Gardner score to pull the home side back into the game, but they couldn’t find another way over the Giants’ line in a disappointing first half.

 

But Matt Gidley got them on the board early in the second before Saints’ pressure finally told and Meli scored.

 

Saints welcomed back Sean Long and Keiron Cunningham up as well as rising teenage star Jonny Lomax who was picked at centre.

 

Jake Emmitt was named on the bench alongside James Roby, Paul Clough and Matty Ashurst.

 

Nathan Brown named forward Andy Raleigh after a two-month lay-off with an Achilles injury, whilst prop Paul Jackson captained the team that was missing 10 members of their semi-final winning outfit.

 

Huddersfield won the ball from the kick off and within five tackles, Shaun Lunt had dummied his way over and Leroy Cudjoe had converted.

 

It was hardly the start expected from the Saints as they looked to avenge back-to-back defeats.

 

And it got worse five minutes later when the Giants move the ball wide – Scott Moore on the wraparound – and Cudjoe evaded the tacklers to go over in the corner.

 

On 15 minutes Saints did break through – Matt Gidley shooting down the left hand side and handing it over to Ade Gardner before the former was called for a forward pass.

 

Three minutes later Danny Kirmond was stretchered off the field after coming off worse in a tackle.

 

Saints had already won a penalty when the injury took place and from there, Sean Long took the ball on, kicked to the corner for Ade Gardner who showed great strength to put down. Lomax was given the opportunity to go for goal, and he was just short right from off the touchline.

 

Gardner was having a lot of joy against the Giants, as was James Roby, who came on to replace Cunningham with around 15 to go. The substitution gave Saints added impetus, but as per the Semi Final, they were finding their opposition hard to crack.

 

But Saints couldn’t find a further way over the Giants’ line and they went in 10-4 down.

 

 

Huddersfield had the first attack of the half and it took a great covering catch from Paul Wellens to quell the danger from Scott Moore’s kick.

 

But five minutes in, Sean Long’s kick caused panic in the Giants’ defence, causing Elliot Hodgson to knock on. From the scrum, Longy sent the ball right and Matt Gidley showed pace and experience to go over in the corner. Lomax hitting the post with the conversion.

 

Saints then forced a drop out as they begun to get on top of the Giants and their attack become more fluid. And on 57 minutes, a Sean Long kick to the corner caused panic but they couldn’t force home their advantage.

 

Two minutes later Saints won another drop out and a fine move, involving a run around with Long, Pryce and Wellens, saw Lomax feed Meli who was just held up over the line.

 

A minute later, Saints were down their end once again and Francis Meli – who has been excellent over the last three games – put down under pressure. Lomax again unlucky with another conversion off the touchline.

 

In the latter stages, Jonny Lomax was flattened by a high and late tackle from Simon Finnigan, who could count himself very lucky to stay on the field.

 

Sean Long’s kicked with around five minutes to go on the last forced another set and then Meli was just inches short from another Long skimming kick.

 

Match Summary:

 

Tries: Gardner, Gidley, Meli

Goals: Lomax (0 from 3)

Tries: Lunt, Cudjoe

Goals: Cudjoe (1 from 2)

 

Saints: 15

Huddersfield: 5

 

HT (Sts First): 4-10

FT (Sts First): 12-10

 

REF: Ian Smith

 

ATT: 8708

1. Paul Wellens; 2. Ade Gardner, 3. Matt Gidley, 30. Jonny Lomax, 5. Francis Meli; 6. Leon Pryce, 7. Sean Long; 10. James Graham, 9. Keiron Cunningham, 16. Tony Puletua, 12. Jon Wilkin, 13. Chris Flannery, 11. Lee Gilmour.

Subs: 14. James Roby, 17. Paul Clough, 28. Matty Ashurst, 31. Jake Emmitt.