Super League: Huddersfield 26-14 Catalans Dragons - Sam Halsall brace helps Giants to victory
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Sam Halsall signed for Huddersfield as part of the deal that took Jake Wardle to Wigan
Betfred Super League |
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Huddersfield (10) 26 |
Tries: Halsall 2, Livett, Naiqama Goals: Connor 5 |
Catalans (8) 14 |
Tries: Johnstone, Laguerre Goals: Keighran 3 |
Huddersfield Giants ran in four tries to hand Catalans Dragons only their third Super League defeat of the season.
Young winger Sam Halsall ran in a brace, backed by tries from Harvey Livett and Kevin Naiqama as the hosts overturned an early first-half deficit.
Tom Johnstone's 10th try of the season helped Catalans earn that lead, and Matthieu Laguerre crossed after the break.
They were both improved by Adam Keighran, who also kicked a first-half penalty to put Catalans further in front after Halsall had cashed in on some slick handling to snatch his first Huddersfield try.
But Ian Watson's Giants sealed victory in the end in relative comfort.
Halsall's second try of the night, when he took in Tui Lolohea's looped pass to score four minutes before the break, levelled the scores, allowing Jake Connor to put Huddersfield ahead for the first time with the conversion.
Johnstone then knocked on after a Connor fumble, before Livett stretched Huddersfield clear with a third try, also improved to go eight points clear eight minutes into the second half.
Laguerre's converted try quickly closed the gap back to two points with almost half an hour still to play. But a two-pointer from Connor, who then set up Naiqama's try, eased any home concerns.
Connor converted and then added a last-minute penalty to complete a fourth win of the season for Huddersfield, which, coupled with St Helens' defeat at Hull KR, lifts Watson's side above the reigning champions to seventh in Super League, on points difference.
The Giants now have nine days before they return to action next Sunday, at struggling Hull FC, while Catalans' next game is also on Sunday week, when the men from Perpignan most cross the English Channel again to face Salford.
Huddersfield: Pryce; McGillvary, Marsters, Naiqama, Halsall; Connor, Lolohea; Hill, Peats, English, McQueen, Livett, Yates.
Interchange: O'Brien, Ikahihifo, Rushton, Ashworth.
Catalans Dragons: Navarrete; Garcia, Bousquet, Whitley, Seguier; McMeeken, Keighran; Rouge, Johnstone, Laguerre, Romano, Davies, Mourgue.
Interchange: Goudemand, Chan, Dezaria, Tomkins.
Referee: Liam Moore.