Giants survive Batley scare
Huddersfield scored four tries in the last 15 minutes to avoid a Challenge Cup shock at Batley.
Last Updated: 08/05/11 5:38pm
Huddersfield Giants scored four tries in the final 15 minutes to avoid a Challenge Cup fourth round shock against Batley with a 28-18 victory at Mount Pleasant.
Danny Brough, Joe Wardle, David Hodgson and Leroy Cudjoe each touched down after Batley, who led 18-10 on 65 minutes, had Dane Manning sent off for a high tackle on Larne Patrick, a decision that outraged the home players.
It proved to be the game's pivotal moment as the National League One outfit had outplayed Huddersfield until then.
A converted Kevin Brown solo try put the Giants 6-0 up early on but two touchdowns in as many minutes turned the game on its head.
First, Manning dived over from Paul Handforth's defence-splitting pass on 23 minutes, and then Jason Walton finished off a flowing move involving Ian Preece and Paul Mennell to put Batley 10-6 in front following a Handforth conversion. It was nothing less than Batley deserved.
Flowing
Kris Lyth and David Tootill were both held up on the Giants try line as Batley sought to increase their lead with a series of flowing moves.
Huddersfield, who were almost at full strength, drew level against the run of play on 33 minutes when Cudjoe put in Lee Gilmour for a touchdown to tie the scores at 10-10 at the break.
Former Giants winger Alex Brown put Batley back in front from a Handforth kick through on 51 minutes, with Handforth converting and then adding a penalty.
But then Manning was sent off and Huddersfield roared back to win the contest through tries from Brough, Wardle and Hodgson.
Cudjoe added gloss to the victory in stoppage time with a solo effort, with Brough completing the scoring with a conversion.
