Huddersfield 24-16: Brough stars in Giants win

Match Stats

Huddersfield tries: Wood (6,7), Ta'ai (63), Roberts (66), McGillvary (72)
Penalties/Conversions: Brough (65,73) 

Wakefield tries: Finn (14), Jones-Bishop (26,39)
Penalties/Conversions: Williams (26,35) 

Match Report

Acting captain Danny Brough led Huddersfield to a thrilling 24-16 victory over Wakefield and climbed into rugby league's all-time top 10 list of scorers. 

The veteran stand-off, leading the Giants in the absence of both skipper Leroy Cudjoe and vice-captain Michael Lawrence, took his points total to 3,440 to leapfrog former Featherstone and York player Steve Quinn in 10th place.

Brough succeeded with only two of his five conversion attempts but was responsible for the decisive moment of an entertaining match when he broke clear nine minutes from the end and produced an inch-perfect kick for England winger Jermaine McGillvary to pounce for the match-winning try and leave Wakefield looking for their first win of the season.

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McGillvary's fourth try in three matches completed the fightback for the Giants, who had trailed 16-8 to a livelier Trinity side at half-time.

It began so promisingly for Huddersfield and for teenage centre Sam Wood, who took a pass from Brough to score his first ever Super League try after four minutes and three minutes later finished off some clever work from hooker Kruise Leeming to double his tally.

Brough was wide with both conversion attempts, though, and from then on Wakefield took control.

Hooker Liam Finn caught the Giants defence napping with a try from a play-the-ball close to the line on 13 minutes and Craig Huby was held up on his back over the line midway through the first half.

The game was in the balance until Ben Jones-Bishop made his mark with two tries in the last 15 minutes of the first half.

His first was a spectacular 90-metre effort, weaving and stepping his way past a host of defenders after stand-off Jacob Miller had picked up a loose ball 10 metres from his own line.

The former Leeds flier had a more straight-forward route to the line for his second, with centre Reece Lyne cleverly drawing two defenders to give him a clear run.

Sam Williams converted one of Wakefield's three tries and added a penalty to make it 16-8 at the break

Huddersfield demonstrated more urgency at the start of the second half, particularly through the barnstorming running of Ukuma Ta'ai and Sebastine Ikahihifo, but initially without showing the patience to make it count.

Substitute prop Daniel Smith reached the line only to be held on his back while McGillvary lost the ball as he crossed at the corner.

The pressure finally told in the 62nd minute when Ta'ai took a pass from the impressive Leeming to touch down wide out and Brough kicked the conversion.

The Giants maintained the momentum and substitute second rower Oliver Roberts edged his side back in front four minutes later when he powered his way to the line for a fourth try.

Brough sliced his kick but had the final say by setting up McGillvary and adding the touchline conversion.

Wakefield forced three goal-line drop-outs and prop David Fifita was held up over the line as they made a last-gasp push for victory but Huddersfield had done just enough to hang on.

Match Reaction

Huddersfield coach Rick Stone on a half-time pep talk: "We had a good hard look at ourselves at half-time. We had a good chat and a few of the senior guys spoke up.

"Defensively we needed to improve. Wakefield had a pretty good first half but they were rolling us down the field far too easily and the score could have been worse at half-time.

"It took a while for us to get it right but they stayed at it and got a result which will hopefully give them a bit of belief going forward.

"It was chalk and cheese compared to the first half. We showed some resolve and desire and a willingness to work together was the main thing." 

On Sam Wood: "It was a big physical jump for a 19-year-old lad but he came up with some real big plays.

"It was good to see some of younger players grow. Him and Alex Mellor were good for young players, you can see them growing with every game."

Wakefield coach Chris Chester:  "I thought in the first 40 minutes we were very dominant. 

"We looked after their big guys pretty well and I thought we were worthy leaders going into half-time.

"Maybe some of the boys fell in love with themselves. We got a bit nervous when we went in front and I thought our game management in the second half was poor.

"We looked like a team chasing the game and came up with some poor errors attacking in their third.

"It's disappointing because that's two games on the bounce we've thrown away. There were some poor individual performances tonight. We got what we deserved." 

On Ben Jones-Bishop's injury: "He's got a broken nose and potentially a broken jaw. He's going for an x-ray as we speak.

"It looked like a naughty challenge and a straight red card to me. It was an attack to the head, he hit him with his shoulder straight on the kid's jaw. It was foul play."