Late Michael Lawrence try seals win for Huddersfield Giants

Michael Lawrence’s late try gave Huddersfield the two points as the Giants defeated Salford 30-20.

Sean Gleeson’s try in the final quarter of the game levelled the scores, but after letting their eight point lead slip away, Huddersfield came back and to defeat the City Reds.

Jermaine McGilvary got the first try for Huddersfield, as Salford were temporarily down to 12 men through an injury to Ashley Gibson in back play. Huddersfield saw the gap on the wing and made sure the ball was thrown to Giants’ flanks in order to get the first try of the evening.

On the 20th minute Leroy Cudjoe was sent to the sin bin for deliberately delaying the City Reds’ 20 metre restart, but it was the Giants who struck next as Salford failed to take immediate advantage.

Tommy Lee’s chip kick to the corner was fumbled by the Salford defenders, and Brett Ferres was in a perfect position to touch down for the try.

Salford finally took advantage of their additional man with some improvising offloads before Vinnie Anderson found a gap on the left side to walk in unopposed under the posts.

The City Reds eventually took the lead; the boot of Daniel Holdsworth was the only difference as the two teams went into the half time break.

Some excellent ball handing from Salford deep in the Giants’ half opened space in the Huddersfield defence, who by this point were back to 13, and Jodie Broughton slipped in for a try in the corner. 

Huddersfield started the half perfectly scoring in their first set of six. Greg Eden was allowed to slip through the Salford defence untouched, and the fullback raced away to touch down in the corner.

Keith Mason scored a similar try moments later, and the Giants’ early second half burst gave them an eight point lead.

However Salford reduced that lead in the final quarter. Salford displayed some excellent offloads to put Danny Williams in before Huddersfield’s poor restart quickly saw Salford at the Giants’ end of the field.

Williams thought he was over again, but the Giants held him up short. However Sean Gleeson was quick to react and scooted over from dummy half to level the scores at 20-all.

But the Giants won the game with a late try from Michael Lawrence. Scott Grix had earlier nudged Huddersfield into a 22-20 lead, but Lawrence’s try from short range ended any hopes of a Salford victory on home soil.

Grix added a further penalty on the final hooter to end the game 30-20.

Salford scores: T- Anderson, Broughton, Williams, Gleeson. G- Holdsworth (2)

Huddersfield scores: T- McGilvary, Ferres, Eden, Mason, Lawrence. G- Grix (5)

Huddersfield sin bin: Cudjoe

Salford: Patten; Broughton, Gibson, Gleeson, Williams; Holdsworth, Howarth; Sidlow, Anderson, Boyle; Ashurst, Adamson, Wild. Subs: James, Palea’aesina, Owwn, Gledhill.

Huddersfield: Eden; McGilvary, Cudjoe, Wardle, Murphy; Grix, Lee; Crabtree, Robinson, Mason; Chan, Ferres, Lawrence. Subs: Moore, Fa’alogo, Faiumu, Cording.

Referee: Ben Thaler

Half time: 12-10

Leeds hammered Widnes 68-24 at Headingley.

Zak Hardaker and Ryan Hall scored two tries each, as Leeds ran wild in the first half to lead 40-12 at the break.

Kylie Leuluai, Shaun Lunt, Darrell Griffin, Brett Delaney, Stevie Ward, Ryan Bailey, Richard Moore and Jimmy Keinhorst all scored tries for the Rhinos.

Widnes replied with two tries from Stefan Marsh, while Cameron Phelps and Frank Winterstein added solitary touch downs.

Jamie Langley scored two tries to give Bradford a 32-26 win over Hull KR.

Shaun Ainscough, Jason Crookes and Elliot Whitehead added extra points for the Bulls. 

Rovers scored tries through Scott Taylor, David Hodgson, Liam Slater and Craig Hall.