Huddersfield Giants 22-4 York Knights: Pre-Season Match Report

York Knights were beaten 22-4 in their warm up game at Huddersfield Giants at the Accu Stadium, in their first run out of the year.

The match, which was also a testimonial for Huddersfield forward, Matty English, saw eight of the Knights’ new season signings get a run out, including King Vuniyayawa, on loan from Newcastle Thunder.

Their only try came from Ben Jones-Bishop after a bright start to the second half, but they showed what they were capable of for long spells of the game.

There will be plenty to work on for Mark Applegarth, but he’ll take heart from some of the players’ performances.

The Knights went close early on, after a penalty for a high tackle 20 metres out from the Giants' line. Scott Galeano was released down the wing, only for the Giants' defence to force him into touch at the corner.

A long spell followed with both sides moving the ball up field and testing the others' defence. York put pressure on with a couple of grubber kicks from Liam Harris, and Huddersfield worked hard to stretch the York line. However, neither could turn any pressure into points.

George King then went close for the hosts, only for some strong tackling to hold him out, before Adam Clune and Tui Lolohea combined to send Sam Halsall over in the corner. Liam Sutcliffe couldn’t add the goal from the touchline.

As the half wore on, both sides made changes and it was the Giants who scored next. A grubber kick from Adam Clune saw Sam Hewitt get there first to score. Sutcliffe converted.

Niall Evalds scored three minutes later, dancing his way through a gap on York’s left, and again Sutcliffe added the extras.

The Giants were now on a roll and making good progress in their sets, making York work hard to defend. As a result, they looked good value for their 16-0 half time lead.

York thought they’d scored just after the restart when Nikau Williams broke clear, only for him to knock on as he tried to ground the ball.

However, it was a good start to the second half for York, with Ata Hingano on from the bench and looking lively. He had a hand in sending Ben Jones-Bishop in at the corner for York’s first points of the year. Danny Richardson was on kicking duties with Harris now off the pitch, but he couldn’t add the extras.

The bright start continued as Galeano again went close, only to be forced into touch, but York were moving the ball well as they probed the Giants’ defence.

It was arguably one of the best spells of the game for York, but with both sides making substitutions, momentum swung back to the Giants and George King romped in from 10 metres out to score. George Flannagan made no mistake with the conversion just to the left of the posts.

That proved to be the final points of the game.

Coach Mark Applegarth will have learned plenty from the game, with the first Betfred Super League game on the horizon next month.

Huddersfield: Evalds, Swift, Gagai, Sutcliffe, Halsall, Lolohea, Clune, Patolo, Woolford, English, O’Donnell, Hewitt, Powell

Subs: Burgess, Rogers, King, Rush, Cozza, Flanagan, Billington, Carr, Land

Tries: Halsall (21), Hewitt (29), Evalds (32), King (63)

Goals: Sutcliffe (2/3), Flannagan (1/1)

York: Mata’afa, Jones-Bishop, Lipp, Wood, Galeano, Williams, Harris, Vuniyayawa, McShane, Sangare, Field, Dee, Thompson

Subs:(all used) Balmforth, Va’a, Hudson, Richardson, Hingano, Martin

Tries: Jones-Bishop (45)

Goals: Richardson (0/1)

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