Huddersfield 6-38 Hull KR: Hull KR prevail on the road
By PA Sport
Last Updated: 16/03/18 6:54am
Hull KR secured their second victory of the season with a 38-6 win on the road at Huddersfield Giants in the Betfred Super League.
The Robins conceded the first try of the match to Huddersfield second rower Oliver Roberts but went on to score six of their own without reply to secure an emphatic triumph at the John Smith's Stadium.
Centre Andrew Heffernan sparked the fightback with his side's first try and created two others but the highlight of the win was a length-of-the-field finish by forward James Greenwood while veteran half-back Danny McGuire scored his first try for the club.
Huddersfield were forced into a re-shuffle following the withdrawal of full-back Jake Mamo and their attack lacked venom against a well-drilled Robins defence.
Yet the Giants were all over their opponents at the start on the back of some power play from front-row forwards Seb Ikahihifo and Ukuma Ta'ai and their pressure paid off after seven minutes when Roberts took a short pass from Danny Brough on the last tackle to score the game's first try.
Brough, who has climbed into seventh place in the Super League points-scoring list, added the conversion to make it 6-0 but that was as good as it got for the Giants.
Heffernan demonstrated neat footwork to touch down from Rovers' first meaningful attack on 12 minutes and two minutes later carved open the home defence to get full-back Adam Quinlan over.
Ryan Shaw converted both and increased his side's lead with a penalty on 31 minutes.
Had impressive Huddersfield second rower Dale Ferguson managed to take Adam O'Brien's pass with the line at his mercy, it might have changed the momentum of the game but the chance went begging and Hull KR struck again just before half-time to strengthen their grip.
They were gifted a glorious attacking position when England winger Jermaine McGillvary lost the ball in a tackle on his own 20-metre area and made the most of it when Shaw raced onto McGuire's pinpoint kick to the corner.
Shaw maintained his accuracy with his fourth goal to make it 20-6 and that is how is stayed until half-time.
Huddersfield went flat after Ikahihifo was brought off for a breather and his return early in the second half breathed new life into them.
They forced a couple of goal-line drop-outs and virtually camped inside the Rovers quarter but the visitors' defence held firm and they struck on the counter-attack to wrap up the win on 63 minutes.
Jordan Rankin's kick on the last tackle fell into the arms of front rower Rob Mulhern, who showed a remarkable turn of pace to go 70 metres, swatting off Brough on the way, and had the presence of mind to find the supporting Greenwood after McGillvary had got back to make the tackle.
Ikahihifo and Paul Clough were both held up over the line for the Giants but Hull KR had no problems cracking the home defence.
Heffernan broke clear to get Shaw over and McGuire supported a flowing move to score his side's final try, with Shaw taking his goal tally to seven from as many attempts.
