Fixtures

 

Missing a whole host of first team players through injury and international call-ups, Saints young side showed a great deal of maturity to cope with that adversity and secure two points.

 

Leon Pryce and Paul Wellens were immense, as was the youthful bench of Matty Ashurst, Jake Emmitt, Paul Johnson and eventual game-winner Andrew Dixon.

 

But this was a game when all 17 stood up against their more illustrious – on paper at least – opponents.

 

Saints raced into a 16-4 lead before succumbing to a strong Huddersfield comeback.

 

Matt Gidley put the home side ahead before Gary Wheeler and Tony Puletua stretched the advantage further.

 

But the Giants hit back through David Faiumu, Lee Gilmour and Scott Grix to level it up at 16-16 – probably undeservedly – at half time.

 

Nick Fozzard bagged a rare try early in the second half – only to have his score cancelled out by Leroy Cudjoe’s fine effort.

 

Jamie Foster kept his cool to slot over a penalty with 10 to go before Leon Pryce fired a sublime offload to send Andrew Dixon in.

 

Mick Potter had to make a number of changes due to injury and the loss of James Roby and James Graham to international duty.

 

Nick Fozzard came into the starting prop berth whilst Gary Wheeler’s move to centre allowed Chris Flannery to return to his second row spot.

 

On the bench, Paul Johnson made his debut after just ‘one’ first grade game up at Whitehaven.

 

Nathan Brown had less of a dilemma; naming his strongest possible side with the added bonus of Shaun Lunt making himself available although he had been selected for England.

 

Saints needed a strong set to open the match which they were clearly underdogs in and they did with Paul Wellens catching a high ball and clearing his lines well. And on four minutes they got deep into the Giants’ half with a cheeky 40:20.

 

On 10 minutes, Francis Meli was held up over the line and from the restart, Matt Gidley got on the angle and put Saints ahead with his sixth of the season. Jamie Foster with the extras.

 

Four minutes later, Gary Wheeler stole the ball one-on-one from David Hodgson and raced Saints into a 10-0 lead.

 

But David Faiumu brought the Giants back into it when he latched onto a break right near the line.

 

Tony Puletua restored Saints lead with a typical outstretched powerful run; which Foster duly converted.

 

Fantastic defence stopped Jermaine McGillvary bagging a certain score towards the half hour mark – both Wheeler and Francis Meli combining to force the offload and the ball to ground.

 

Saints defence continued to be the highlight of the half with the pack getting on top of their counterparts even though it was missing the influential Graham.

 

But Lee Gilmour unlocked the try-line defence with minutes to go to put his side right back in it – Brett Hodgson converting.

 

Danny Brough hammered a 40:20 late on in the half and Scott Grix levelled up the scores with a darting break. B. Hodgson with the conversion.

 

 

After a couple of early scares, Nick Fozzard put Saints back ahead within the first five minutes with a strong, determined run that was all about power and persistence – converted by Foster.

 

53 minutes in, Gidley tried a little chip through – but the bounce of the ball and its pace just beat Jamie Foster. Matty Ashurst pushed the kick too shortly after, forcing a drop out.

 

Saints couldn’t take advantage and when they were penalised for an infringement in the tackle Brough drove the Giants to within feet.

 

But some outstanding defence as well as an exceptional high take from Foster quelled the danger.

 

Saints, however, couldn’t stop the next attack – the ball was moved left and right and when it got to Leroy Cudjoe he was too strong for the cover. Brett Hodgson making it three from four with the boot.

 

Huddersfield were give two penalties in succession – but Saints defence held firm – then Gidley won one of his own after he was taken out following a chip over.

 

That gave Foster the chance to put over a penalty – which he duly did with less than ten minutes left.

 

Saints then fielded a short kick off, broke the line through Leon Pryce and Andrew Dixon was backing up. Superb.

 

Foster converting.

 

Huddersfield came at Saints hard in the last five minutes, but Potter’s men were in no mood to give up after such a monumental effort.