Huddersfield 24-19 London Broncos: Jermaine McGillvary scores late try to down visitors
Giants have not been beaten by capital-based rivals since March 2008
Last Updated: 22/04/19 5:50pm
Jermanine McGillvary grabbed a late try as Huddersfield were forced to come from behind three times to extend their amazing recent winning run to 18 after a 24-19 victory over London Broncos at the John Smith's Stadium.
The West Yorkshire club have not been beaten anywhere by their capital-based rivals since 2008 and their latest success leaves the Broncos, mauled at home 39-6 by Catalans Dragons on Thursday, rooted to the bottom of the Betfred Super League table.
The Giants bounced back from a Good Friday defeat at Leeds to inflict a fifth straight league defeat - their sixth in all competitions - on the struggling Broncos
Huddersfield crossed through McGillvary (twice), Alex Mellor and Scott Grix, while London, whose last victory was at Leeds on March 15th, replied through tries from Jay Pitts, Rhys Williams and Ryan Morgan.
The Broncos began the game with the dubious distinction of having the least potent attack in the league but quickly improved that statistic when Huddersfield conceded a penalty in front of their own posts and Kieran Dixon, just back from a hand injury, edged them two points ahead.
Things got better for the visitors as Pitts twisted out of an inconclusive tackle to touchdown and Dixon, who went on to land three goals from four attempts, increased their early lead to 8-0.
Only a try-saving tackle into touch from Jake Wardle prevented Dixon crossing in the corner and putting the Londoners further ahead.
Adam O'Brien was held up attempting to get the Giants off of the mark but quick hands to the right eventually prised a gap which Mellor, who missed Good Friday's defeat at Leeds, exploited to score.
Almost immediately Innes Senior broke down the Giants right and sent Grix, another player rested at Headingley, scampering beside over the posts, with Oliver Russell converting both tries to put the hosts in front.
Just before half-time French international hooker Eloi Pelissier was helped from the field with a head knock, enabling Sam Davis to become the sixth Broncos academy product to make his senior debut this season.
Huddersfield dominated the opening exchanges of the second half but a stray Grix pass was intercepted by winger Williams, who sprinted 85 metres to score with Dixon's conversion regaining the lead for the Londoners.
It did not last long as Dixon turned from hero to villain by dropping a towering bomb five metres from his own line and, from the resultant scrum, McGillvary slid over in the opposite corner.
Russell, who finished with four goals, landed a fine touchline conversion.
Morgan replied for the Broncos just after the hour to tie matters but Dixon missed his first attempt at goal of the afternoon and both Kruise Leeming and Suaia Matagi were held up over the line for the Giants.
The game was held up for 10 minutes as Huddersfield's Jordan Turner was carefully treated then carried off on a stretcher with a possible neck injury.
Matt Frawley missed an attempted drop goal and, with less than eight minutes remaining, Morgan Smith slotted over a long range one-pointer.
But there was still time for McGillvary to claim his second try, in the same corner and ensure the Giants of a quickfire season's double, having won in Ealing 38-26 barely three weeks beforehand.
