Leeds 12-31 Huddersfield: Giants stun Rhinos

Match stats

Leeds tries: Parcell (14), Moon (31)
Conversions/Penalties: Watkins (14, 31) 

Huddersfield tries: Mamo (19), Leeming (26), Ferguson (55), McIntosh (60), Roberts (70)
Conversions/Penalties: Brough (19, 26, 55, 60, 70)
Drop Goals: Brough (67) 

Match report

England football manager Gareth Southgate witnessed one of the biggest shocks of the season as a patched-up Huddersfield bounced back from their humiliating Challenge Cup exit to stun Leeds.

Southgate, who opted for Headingley rather than the Etihad and the Manchester derby as a guest of the Rhinos Foundation, no doubt turned up, like the vast majority of the 13,169 crowd, expecting Leeds to continue their run to the top of the Betfred Super League.

But the Giants, forced to include five academy products due to a glut of injuries, dug deep to grind out a famous 31-12 victory, their first win in 10 games to deny their hosts the chance to go top of the table.

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Reeling from their shock home defeat by part-timers Swinton only five days earlier, the Huddersfield players wore black arm-bands in memory of Jennifer Davy, wife of Huddersfield chairman Ken Davy who died the day before the game, and that added to the poignancy of the occasion .

Matthew English made his Super League debut for the Giants while Leeds gave a league debut to 17-year-old Jack Walker, fresh from his hat-trick of tries in last Friday's Challenge Cup win over Doncaster.

An early 40-20 kick from skipper Danny Brough enabled the visitors to enjoy all of the early pressure but without making it count and the game appeared to be heading for a predictable outcome when Leeds opened the scoring in their first meaningful attack on 12 minutes, hooker Matt Parcell dummying his way over for his seventh try in eight appearances.

Instead of opening the floodgates, however, the score stung Huddersfield into action and they took the lead with two tries in eight minutes mid-way through the first half.

Australian full-back Jake Mamo touched down for his third in as many matches, juggling with the ball after gathering Alex Mellor's grubber kick off the outside of his boot that would have no doubt impressed Southgate, and hooker Kruise Leeming darted through a gap after setting up the scoring position with a 40-20 kick.

Brough added both conversions to make it 12-6 but Leeds drew level after half-an-hour when substitute Stevie Ward went through a gap and found the supporting Walker, whose pass was deflected by defender Darnell McIntosh into the grateful arms of scrum-half Joel Moon for his eighth try in seven matches.

Kallum Watkins' second goal locked the scores at 12-12 and it stayed that way for another 25 minutes of stalemate.

Leeds captain Danny McGuire thought he had broken the deadlock on 52 minutes when he jinked his way through to the tryline but it was disallowed by video referee Roberts Hicks for obstruction in the build-up.

And it proved a huge turning point as the Giants struck with two tries in five minutes to seize control.

Hooker Adam O'Brien, moments after being held up over the line on his back, produced a delicate grubber kick for second rower Dale Ferguson to touch down with inches to spare.

Then winger McIntosh punished a handling error by Leeds prop Adam Cuthbertson 20 metres out from his own line, centre Aaron Murphy scooping up the loose ball for Brough to get the youngster haring for the line.

Brough kicked the touchline conversion to extend his side's lead to 24-12, added a drop goal to put his side three scores in front and converted a 70th-minute try from second rower Oliver Roberts, who demonstrated tremendous power to force his way over past four defenders.

Match reaction

Huddersfield coach Rick Stone on a fitting tribute to the wife of club owner Ken Davy, Jennifer, who died suddenly on Thursday: "I think everyone can feel a little bit proud of the club tonight. We've not had a lot to cheer about in the last couple of weeks.

"It probably has been emotional, particularly for those boys who have been at the club for a while. They understand Jennifer's influence on Ken and how he got initially involved in the Giants, she being a Huddersfield girl and a rugby league fan.

"That's how it all started a long time ago, such a classy lady and a classy couple. It was good to see the boys show that sort of emotion and courage and desire. It's a bit disappointing at times to think that something like that needs to happen but tonight we can be proud of our efforts."

On the overall performance: "We definitely stood up and competed hard for the whole 80 minutes. The conditions probably suited us. Any time you've got Broughy in those conditions it helps. We had more intent in our defence, that was the main thing. We forced Leeds into a few errors and that sucked the juice out of them in the second half.

"It was good to see a happy dressing room for a change. It's up to the boys to realise if that's the yardstick, they have to produce that effort every week."

Leeds coach Brian McDermott his his side's display: "I give Huddersfield a lot of credit because I thought they were tenacious and showed a lot of endeavour but I don't think it was a great game and I don't think they played particularly well.

"They didn't play us off the field and I thought we were really poor. Huddersfield absolutely deserved the win but I wouldn't put it down to a great performance. Some of their goal-line defence in the second half got them their win, while we trying to invent plays and pretty much running up our own backside."

On Danny McGuire's disallowed try: "It looked a try to me. I couldn't see where anybody was hindered in the build-up.

"I don't think it was pivotal, our attitude and lack of bite, both offence and defence was pivotal. We had a chance to go two points clear tonight and we're not good enough to lead the comp at the moment."