Huddersfield 22-22 Leeds: Late drama fails to separate sides

Hudderfield's Jared Simpson touched down for two tries

Jordan Rankin failed with a last-minute drop goal as Huddersfield settled for a creditable 22-22 draw against champions Leeds in Chris Thorman's first game in charge.

In the end, centre Ash Handley's second try of an entertaining West Yorkshire derby after 76 minutes and Kallum Watkins third goal rescued a point for the visitors.

Winger Jared Simpson grabbed two first-half tries on his first appearance of the year, while Danny Brough kicked five goals from five attempts as Giants led 12-0, 14-6 and then 20-16.

Thorman's first selection since replacing Australian boss Rick Stone included debuts for teenagers Louis Senior and Sam Hewitt, while ex-Giant Brett Ferres returned to the Leeds' side for the first time since last season's Grand Final.

Simpson had not featured in Super League since last September's 36-12 home defeat to the Headingley outfit.

Kallum Watkins rescued a point for the Leeds Rhinos

Huddersfield made the perfect start with Simpson squeezing in at the corner after only 90 seconds. Brough nailed a superb touchline conversion to leave the visitors trailing 6-0.

Leeds should have registered their first points after eight minutes, only for Richie Myler to drop the ball with an unguarded tryline at his mercy.

Simpson, back from a four-game dual-registration spell at Dewsbury, struck again after 17 minutes with Brough again booting the extras.

It proved a wake-up call for the Rhinos as Watkins crashed over after 22 minutes and duly converted his own try to cut his team's deficit in half.

The Giants though were good value for a 14-6 interval lead. But within 12 minutes of the restart Leeds struck back as Giants conceded two tries initiated by penalties for holding-down offences on Ryan Hall and Tom Briscoe.

Huddersfield interim head coach Chris Thorman, pictured while in charge of York in 2012, engineered a draw in his first game in charge

Hall had his revenge by going over after 44 minutes while Handley, with the assist for the England winger's touch down, dummied his way over eight minutes later. Watkins converted Handley's individual effort and Leeds led 16-14.

Given Giants' spirited performance it never looked certain to be a winning advantage. Hooker Adam O'Brien duly restored Huddersfield's lead after 64 minutes, burrowing over from dummy-half for Brough to add a fourth goal.

His fifth came via a 73rd-minute penalty, leaving Leeds needing to score twice to win the game.

Handley, though, came to the rescue with his second try four minutes from time with Watkins' fourth goal tying the contest.