Giants too strong for Bulls

The Huddersfield Giants got their Super League campaign underway with a hard-fought 24-12 victory over the Bradford Bulls at the Galpharm Stadium on Friday night.

The Giants outscored their rivals by four tries to three, but the difference between the two sides proved to be not only the more clinical finishing of the hosts, but also their excellent defence.

Leroy Cudjoe (two), Shaun Lunt and David Fa'alogo all got on the scoresheet for Huddersfield, while the Bulls responded with tries from wingers Stuart Reardon (two) and Rickki Sheriffe.

Bradford made an encouraging start to the game, but were unable to breach the well-organised Giants defence after getting into excellent position and were made to pay the price.

Although they suffered an early blow as Keith Mason was forced off with a shoulder injury, the hosts moved ahead on seven minutes as Cudjoe grabbed his first try.

A well-worked back move saw the Bulls defence left bamboozled by a dummy runner and, finding himself in acres of space out wide, Cudjoe was left with an easy run to the line - Brett Hodgson kicked an excellent conversion from the touchline.

Cudjoe and the Giants doubled their tally nine minutes later as Bradford's defence out wide was again exposed. Reigning Man of Steel Hodgson was involved again with his superbly-judged kick over the top finding Stuart Reardon hopelessly out of position and allowing Cudjoe another simple chance to score.

Hodgson missed the conversion this time, but the Bulls were rattled and a number of unforced handling errors further undermined their efforts.

One such from Paul Sykes gifted possession back to the Giants who promptly went on to notch their third try as they pulled into a 16-0 lead.

Having worked their way to the try-line following Sykes' error, it was hooker Shaun Lunt who spun past a couple of tacklers to touch down from close range and Hodgson slotted the conversion - his 100th goal for the Giants.

The Australian narrowly failed to add a fourth try as a wickedly-bouncing ball in the Bradford in-goal area just crept dead before he could touch it down, but at that stage the Bulls looked dead and buried.

Lifeline

However, two quick tries before the interval suddenly breathed life back into the visitors, the first coming as a sweeping move from right to left finally opened up the Giants defence with Chris Nero releasing Stuart Reardon to dive over in the corner.

They then hauled themselves right back into the match just before the half-time hooter as a neat kick from Matt Orford was collected by Sykes who spun before offloading to Sheriffe who finished well in the corner under pressure.

The Bulls could not, though, build on that revival after the restart and it was Huddersfield who extended their lead on 44 minutes as Fa'alogo grabbed a debut try after powering past Michael Worrincy from close range to score next to the posts, allowing Hodgson to slot an easy conversion.

The Bulls were given renewed hope on 48 minutes as Luke Robinson was sin-binned after referee Steve Ganson lost his patience with Huddersfield for lying on in the tackle.

But the visitors could not make their numerical advantage or excellent field position count as the Giants kept them at bay on their goal-line for two sets before recovering possession and launching a counter of their own from which Hodgson would go on to kick a penalty to extend the lead to 24-8.

Another chance to force their way back into the contest was presented to the visitors when Huddersfield were again reduced to 12 men after Lee Gilmour was shown a yellow card for a cynical trip on Brett Kearney.

From that penalty they did manage their third try as Reardon twisted away from Cudjoe to score in the corner after referee Ganson had checked with the video official.

Orford assumed kicking duties but also failed to convert from the touchline, but the Bulls sensed a way back into the game.

They had plenty of possession in the closing stages but, as had been the case for much of the match, just lacked the guile to penetrate Huddersfield's outstanding sliding defence and ultimately the Giants held on for a deserved triumph.