Whitehaven 22, Huddersfield Giants 24
A young Huddersfield Giants side scored two tries in the last five minutes to sneak a narrow win at the Recreation Ground.

Gregg McNally, the west Cumbrian youngster who has left Whitehaven for the Super League club landed four conversions during the game and gave an influential performance for the visitors at scrum-half.

The disappointment in the result for the Whitehaven fans was matched by their feeling of being let-down by the team sent by the Super League club, who sent none of their stars.

The match had been billed as a double “Super League comes to west Cumbria” with Leeds Rhinos due in Copeland next Sunday. The fans will expect a much stronger Leeds outfit than Huddersfield sent.

That was probably why Whitehaven coach Ged Stokes decided to make continual changes as the game progressed and on top of a strong-looking starting squad used ten substitutes.

Huddersfield had taken the lead on 14  minutes when McNally launched a bomb which home full-back Craig Benson spilled. As a result opposite number Elliott Hodgson came through to get the touchdown which McNally improved.

The young Giant continued to force the pace and on 21 minutes they increased their lead when hooker Joe Parkinson slipped under two tackles from acting half back to score a close range try. McNally again converted.

Huddersfield did not score again, however, until the last five minutes when McNally’s two conversions gave them a narrow victory.

In between Whitehaven di a lot better, particularly in the second-half.

They had reduced the arrears before the break on 36 minutes. Great work by Carl Rudd created an opening for prop Ryan McDonald who crashed over. Rudd added the conversion.

Nine minutes into the second-half Whitehaven scored again. Dylan Skee put in a clever chip over he Huddersfield back line and it was the classy Rudd who was the most alert, chasing through to collect and score the try. Unfortunately he missed with the conversion.

Three minutes later Whitehaven took the lead for the first time. Full-back Hodgson lost the ball when he was tackled in-goal and Leroy Joe was on hand to touchdown for a simple try which Rudd converted.

As the young Huddersfield side appeared to be tiring Whitehaven scored what could have been the crucial try on 65 minutes, from the best move of the match.

Skee’s long pass found the impressive Mick Govin and after running a great angle had Carl Sice coming inside to take the pass and go over. Rudd’s conversion made it 22-12. Game over?

Not so, because on 75 minutes some loose play on half-way saw them lose possession and Huddersfield countered superbly with winger Greg Johnson going in for the try which McNally converted.

Some more poor defending almost straight from the kick-off saw Huddersfield enjoy good pressure and substitute Jamie Shepherd got in for the try which put the two teams level.

Would McNally put the kick wide for an honours-even scoreline. No way, the youngster was completely professional in his approach and hit the target to give his side the win.

Naturally getnoticedonline.co.uk was represented with MAL WALKER the man on the spot to provide the best rugby action. He was on hand as Ryan McDonald crashed over for Haven's first try; when Stehen Fox was on the receivng end of a painful-looking tackle and when Carl Rudd crossed for Haven.

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