Super League: Huddersfield Giants 16-20 Leeds Rhinos
- Published
First Utility Super League |
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Huddersfield Giants (6) 16 |
Tries: McGillvary, Ellis Goals: Brough 4 |
Leeds Rhinos (8) 20 |
Tries: Ward, Briscoe, Hall Goals: Sinfield 4 |
Ryan Hall's last-minute try secured Leeds Rhinos the League Leaders' Shield with a dramatic win at Huddersfield.
Going into the game on the back of three defeats, Leeds went ahead through Stevie Ward's try before Jermaine McGillvary helped haul Giants level.
Jamie Ellis put Huddersfield ahead but Tom Briscoe's score gave Leeds hope.
Kevin Sinfield's penalty levelled in the last minute and with the next play, Hall ran in on the left side to keep Leeds' hopes of the treble alive.
Leeds, who won the Challenge Cup in August, add the 2015 League Leaders' Shield to their successes in 2004 and 2009 and will host fourth-placed St Helens in their play-off semi-final.
Captain Sinfield set up Ward to leap over the line for his fifth try of the season to put the visitors ahead.
Super League's leading try-scorer McGillvary took his tally to 27 when he ran in at the right corner and Brough's conversion brought the game level.
Sinfield's 40-metre penalty as the half came to a close gave Leeds a two-point half-time lead and Brough replied with his own kick eight minutes after the break.
Huddersfield piled on the pressure searching for the play to give them the lead and they finally found it, as Ellis ran in under the posts.
Leeds needed something special when they were trailing by eight points with eight minutes remaining - and Sinfield's conversion after Briscoe's try closed the gap to two points.
Sinfield held his nerve to level the game at 16-16 with a penalty as the clock ticked over to the final minute, and Hall then raced in with glee on the left-hand side to secure Leeds' second trophy of the year.
Huddersfield: Grix; McGillvary, Cudjoe, Wardle, Murphy; Brough, Ellis; Kopczak, Robinson, Huby, Ferres, Hughes, Ta'ai.
Replacements: Lawrence, Johnson, Leeming, Smith.
Leeds: Hardaker; Briscoe, Watkins, Moon, Hall; Sinfield, McGuire; Garbutt, Burrow, Singleton, Ablett, Ward, Cuthbertson.
Replacements: Delaney, Leuluai, Peacock, Lilley.
Referee: Robert Hicks (RFL).
Attendance: 9,326
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