Leigh hold off Giants to go third in Super League

Betfred Super League

Huddersfield (6) 24

Goals: Flanagan (4), Swift, Halsall, Cudjoe

Leigh (12) 28

At John Smith’s Stadium, Leigh Leopards rallied 28-24 to defeat the Huddersfield Giants.

The visitors won thanks to first-half tries from Isaac Liu and Ben McNamara and second-half scores from Lachlan Lam, Frankie Halton, and Lachlan Lam’s.

After George Flanagan scored the opening score for Huddersfield just before the break, attempts from Adam Swift, Sam Halsall, and Leroy Cudjoe led to a frantic finish.

After 15 minutes, Huddersfield, who had only won one of their previous 12 games, went back on George King’s error, who gave Liu a free run under the posts from close range. With a straightforward conversion, McNamara added the extras.

Ten minutes later, Leigh’s second try was made by Swift, this time for a defensive error. Before being offloaded to McNamara, who drove over the line, Keanan Brand raced clear. Then he wrote himself to convert.

However, with half-time approaching, the Giants pulled a try back through Flanagan. His weaving maneuver spooked the Leigh defense, and he uncontestedly touched down beneath the posts. Then he stepped up and converted.

Leigh restored their two-score lead shortly after the break. After a risky short drop-out from Flanagan gave possession back to Leigh, Armstrong exploited a second gap in the Giants’ defense. As the Leopards began to pull away, McNamara’s kick from a tight angle was successful.

After a superb drive through the pitch’s center, Lam scored his first try of the season. The play was repurposed before the half-back scored in the corner after being held up by Tuimoala Lolohea. McNamara misjudged his kick this time.

Moments later, as Leigh maneuvered through the gears, Lam turned into a provider. Halton went over before McNamara converted from his short offload, which was found by him.

After making a brilliant catch and pass in the build-up by Lolohea and Adam Clune, Swift made up for his earlier error with a diving try in the left corner. The extras were added by Flanagan.

Golding, Wilson, Burgess, and Rush make changes.

Leigh: Armstrong, McIntosh, Niu, Hanley, Brand, McNamara, Lam, Ofahengaue, Ipape, Mulhearn, Halton, Trout, Liu, and Niu.

Tuitavake, Hughes, Davis, and Hodgson are the others.