St Helens break Huddersfield hearts with last gasp drop goal
Last Updated: 11/07/15 12:41pm
St Helens needed a Luke Walsh drop goal to earn a late 35-34 win over Huddersfield at Langtree Park on Friday.
There were plenty of tries - six apiece - and the kickers matched each other to the end, with the final tries the only ones not converted before Walsh stepped up to seal the game for the hosts with two minutes remaining.
New Saints signing Adam Quinlan got off to the best start possible as the Australian recorded a first-half hat-trick on debut, but each time Saints scored Huddersfield hit back with a try of their own, with Saints claiming the lead no fewer than six times throughout the encounter.
It was Huddersfield who created the most opportunities in the early parts of the match as the St Helens rush defence left them exposed out wide on three occasions within the first few minutes, but Giants failed each time to turn the opportunities into points.
It was at the other end of the field that the first try was scored, when a kick through hit Scott Grix on the shin and Quinlan claimed the ball to scamper over for his first.
Jack Hughes was the first to match a Quinlan try as he got the ball with plenty of work to do under the Giants posts but stretched over for his side's opening try of the game.
Quinlan was on hand shortly thereafter when the ball spilled backwards out of an attempted pass from Andre Savelio and a kick through ended with Quinlan on the other end of it to reclaim the lead.
Giants hit back immediately through winger Jermaine McGillvary before Quinlan crossed for the hat-trick after a James Roby break.
Huddersfield were unable to hit back before the half-time whistle but were first on the board in the second half with a Leroy Cudjoe effort making it 18-18.
Tries were then exchanged by St Helens' Mark Percival and the second try of the night from McGillvary before Joe Greenwood crashed through from close quarters to give his side a six-point lead.
Percival then crossed for his second and Walsh missed his first conversion of the night to make it 34-24 with 15 minutes remaining.
The Giants came back impressively, first through veteran Eorl Crabtree, who crossed despite plenty of attention before Aaron Murphy touched down to give Jamie Ellis a chance to take an unlikely lead.
Ellis pulled the kick left to leave the game in the balance, and that was enough for Luke Walsh who took the ball and slotted a drop kick to give his side the win after seeing out the last two minutes.
