26-0 up and to be fair we pretty much laid the foundations to really hammer them, but we came out second half as though it was job done.
I thought first 20 they would give us a test but to be honest they struggled to make 20 yards in their 6.
Was a tad worried when Griff went down near half time, but he came back on second half.
They rallied well second half and made a bit more of a game of it, although I thought their first try scorer was a few yards in front of the kicker, but wasn't too fussed, good to see them get some points.
Joined: Mar 14 2002 Posts: 1016 Location: skelmanthorpe the real posh part of huddersfield
we never looked like losing at any stage must admit second half was bored waiting for final whistle, but with 10 men rested to be expected cant complain at 38 - 12 but glad its over.
A hat-trick from man of the match Shaun Lunt helped the Giants to a 38 points to 12 win over Rochdale Hornets in the Challenge Cup at the Galpharm Stadium.
The Giants took a break from Super League action with their fifth round Carnegie Challenge Cup tie against Championship 1 visitors Rochdale Hornets. The Giants took the opportunity of fielding several of the younger players and gave debuts to Keal Carlile and Josh Griffin. The Giants started strongly, putting the visitors under pressure and took a 6th minute lead through Luke Robinson who found a gap some thirty metres out and scooted away for a try, with Leroy Cudjoe missing the conversion attempt. On 10 minutes the Giants were over again with Shaun Lunt going in from dummy-half after Simon Finnigan had created the opportunity. This time, Leroy Cudjoe added the extras and two minutes later Tom Hemingway’s neat pass put Larne Patrick in space and he went in from some thirty meters out in the corner. Leroy Cudjoe again missed the conversion. Little had been seen of the Hornets in attack but on the quarter hour they created space down the Giants right hand side, with Craig Johnson running strongly. Mick Fogerty then also made good progress and eventually the visitors forced a goal line drop out. At the other end a Michael Korkidas grubber kick forced the visitors to concede a goal line drop out and from the resulting play, Martin Aspinwall was pushed into touch. Josh Griffin then made a fifty meter burst down the left hand touchline before he was forced into touch by the corner flag and as the Giants continued their relentless pressure, a Tom Hemingway kick forced another goal line drop out. The defence held strong until the half hour when Keal Carlile marked his debut with a try from dummy half, to which Leroy Cudjoe added the extras. A Luke Robinson kick then almost put Michael Lawrence in, before on 35 minutes the visitors showed their strength on attack when John Gillam might have crossed at the corner but he was unable to gather the grubber kick forward. The half ended with a further Giants try, Jamahl Lolesi running some 40 meters to score by the posts, after Larne Patrick had made the initial break. Leroy Cudjoe’s conversion gave the Giants a 26 point advantage at the hooter.
It had been a strong Giants performance with the result virtually a foregone conclusion. Of the younger players, Larne Patrick had performed strongly as had Shaun Lunt, and Keal Carlile. The visitors had defended stoutly but had not really threatened the Giants line apart from the odd occasion.
The second half began with the Giants again in the ascendency, and they added a further try on 45 minutes when Simon Finnigan put Shaun Lunt in for his second try of the afternoon, after good work initially by Keal Carlile. Leroy Cudjoe added the extras and a Luke Robinson kick then almost put Jamahl Lolesi in for a further try. The visitors where though, now beginning to enjoy a further share of possession of the football and began to ask questions of the Giants defence. A kick by Martin Ainscough to the corner found the Giants defence wanting, and Mick Fogerty was able to catch the high ball and touch down for a try in the corner to which Chris Giles added a splendid touchline conversion. A fine tackle by Josh Griffin then prevented a further possible score by Gillam but as the pressure was maintained, Martin Ainscough, who had enjoyed a fine game for the visitors, got his reward with a try from a grubber kick, Chris Giles again added the extras to put the Hornets into double figures.
The Giants had lacked intensity in the second period and were finding it difficult to put any serious range of attacks together. A Tom Hemingway kick almost put Jamahl Lolesi in at the corner but he dropped the ball in the act of touching down and then another Hemingway kick forced a goal line drop out, but again the Giants were unable to capitalise on the position gained. They did however get the last try on 75 minutes, Shaun Lunt going in for his hat-trick after Tom Hemingway had been tackled a metre short. Leroy Cudjoe’s conversion meant that the second half had ended with the scores of the two sides level. The damage had been done in the first period when the Giants took the game totally away from the visitors.
Credit to the Rochdale side for a spirited and wholehearted performance, justly rewarded by their two tries scored in the second half. The Giants will be looking forward with interest to the quarter final draw.
Joined: Nov 14 2002 Posts: 235 Location: Just where I want to be
Robinson didn't come back on for the second half and Lunt spent a period off the field and that's when we fell away and badly.
Why do we rarely play with width, always turning back in centre field? I nearly fell asleep second half it was that flat and repetitive rugby. We certainly lacked pace. Both Griffin (J) & Lolesi were caught with a head start.
A few players need to up their standards. Very disappointed today with some players - Cudjoe, Lawrence, Aspinwall & Finnigan didn't do themselves any favours today in my eyes.
Having said all that I must give big credits to Rochdale. They never gave up, tackled strongly and caused us problems throughout the game with their attacking kicks.
Joined: Nov 14 2002 Posts: 235 Location: Just where I want to be
PONNER wrote:Thought Cudjoe did ok.
He got caught out for both Rochdale tries and out of position a few times. What disappoints me though is when running the ball out of defence he is slow and stops before hitting the defensive line.
I appreciate he is young and still learning but if he can't do it against part timers he'll struggle against better teams.
At full back against a top club he will be targetted and caught out far too often.
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