Chris Thorman, the new interim manager, took his Huddersfield Giants side to the south of France to take on a Catalans Dragons side who are still looking for their second victory of the season. A win for Huddersfield would see them into eighth spot, but a even a big home win wouldn’t be enough for Catalans to end the Easter weekend anywhere but at the foot of the table.
The Giants did brilliantly to share the points with the Leeds Rhinos on Good Friday, against the odds, but the Dragons lost again on the road at Salford Red Devils, as Steve McNamara’s reign of woe continued. Both sides were without key players, noticibly the visitors missing talisman and kicker Danny Brough.
It was a crucial bottom of the table encounter.
The opening eighteen minutes were saw the two sides feeling one another out but unable to pose any real threat to one anothers try line.
A great run from Ukuma Ta’ai established good field position for the Giants. On the next play the ball Jordan Turner found Aaron Murphy who used his speed to go through the line and score from twenty-five metres out. Darnell McIntosh kicked the extras for a 6-0 lead.
Within a minute of the restart, the Giants unable to deal with the kick-off, Jodie Broughton used his strength to go over in the left corner despite the attention of Jordan Rankin. Tony Gigot was well wide of the post with his conversion attempt.
The Dragons got out of jail on thirty after Fouad Yaha had the ball stripped by Aaron Murphy after taking a high kick. The referee referred to the video official who decided that Yaha had diffused the bomb in goal.
Seconds after the restart Benjamin Jullien was the beneficiary when he took a Yaha palm back from a high kick to the corner to go through the broken Giants defence to score. Gigot kicked brilliantly for 10-6 to the Dragons.
Within five minutes David Mead found his way through the broken Giants defence off a Greg Bird pass to walk over the line and score without a defender getting close to him. Gigot hit the post with the conversion and the lead was eight points.
Tony Gigot was tearing the Huddesfield defence apart and as he stepped his way down the centre of the field he found his full back Mead in support to go over under the sticks to score. Gigot added the extras and at 20-6 the home side were pulling clear.
Twelve minutes from time Jodie Broughton sealed the Dragons win when he scored in the left corner. Gigot was unable to kick the conversion from wide, agains hitting the upright, but at 24-6 the Giants needed four tries to get the win and the clock was against them.
A ball steal on seventy-four gave Gigot a simple ten metre penalty for a twenty point lead. He added a drop goal three minutes from time for 27-6 and the Dragons biggest win of the season ahead of a game against the Wigan Warriors next weekend.
After an awful first half from both sides it was the experience of the Catalans Dragons which told in the end, as they secured their second victory of the season and dragged an injury hit Huddersfield Giants back into the mire at the bottom of the table. All credit to the Giants youngsters, who tried their hardest, but coach Thorman needs to get some of his stars back in contention for next week.
Steve McNamara's side have bought him some more time in charge.
Dragons: Mead (2T), Broughton (2T), Wiliame, Thornley, Yaha, Gigot (3G, DG), Langi, Casty, McIlorum, Moa, Anderson, Jullien (T), Bird. Subs: Bousquet, Aiton, Baitieri, Simon.
Giants: McIntosh (G), Simpson, Mellor, Murphy (T), Senior I, Turner, Rankin, Ikahihifo, O’Brien, Clough, Ferguson, Lawrence, Smith. Subs: Hinchcliffe, Ta’ai, Wakeman. Roche.
Referee: Scott Mikalauskas.
Half-Time: 4-6.
Full-Time: 27-6.
Attendance: .
