Salford shock Giants
Salford produced another home upset as they shocked high-flying Huddersfield Giants 30-18 at The Willows.
Last Updated: 05/04/10 5:26pm
Salford produced another home upset as they shocked high-flying Huddersfield Giants 30-18 at The Willows.
After beating Hull in their last home game, the Reds bounced back from an away mauling at Warrington to claim just a third win of the Super League season.
The Reds scored four tries in the match, with Adam Sidlow, Ashley Gibson, Steve Tyrer and Daniel Holdsworth crossing the line, while Holdsworth proved the difference as he also kicked 14 points.
Huddersfield matched Salford's tally of four tries, but three of them came in the closing 12 minutes as they trailed 30-4 to only make the scoreline more respectable.
The Reds were missing winger Jodie Broughton who damaged his shoulder in Friday's 32-2 hammering at Warrington, while Huddersfield opted to rest Lee Gilmour with skipper Brett Hodgson and Eorl Crabtree not risked with slight knocks.
Early lead
Salford snatched a fifth-minute lead with skipper Malcolm Alker's 40-20 setting up the chance for man of the match Holdsworth to send Sidlow crashing over.
Holdsworth tagged on the conversion and then added two penalties to stretch the lead to 10-0.
Huddersfield had a glorious opportunity to grab their first try when Kevin Brown broke clear in midfield and fed David Hodgson. But the ex-Salford winger was knocked into touch by a desperate Tyrer tackle.
It was to prove costly for the Giants with Salford immediately going on the offensive for Willie Talau's short kick to be gathered by Gibson.
Holdsworth's touchline conversion made it 16-0 with Danny Brough, the recent capture from Wakefield, struggling against determined defence.
Forwards Ray Cashmere and Sidlow were prominent for the Reds in an almost error-free first half which saw them leading 16-0 at the hooter.
Quick restart
Salford went further ahead from the restart after Ratchford's kick off went 10 metres and blew back for Holdsworth to charge through Hodgson's tackle and race under the posts to stretch the lead to 22-0.
Mark Henry's power almost brought Salford another try with Huddersfield looking a pale shadow of the side that had climbed to third place this season.
Brough came to the Giants' rescue with a try-saving tackle on Stuart Littler before Holdsworth struck his third penalty.
Huddersfield had to wait an hour before David Hodgson went over in the corner against his old club. But when Brough threw out a wild pass Tyrer pounced to race 90 metres and make it 30-4 before Larne Patrick went over for the Giants' second try.
Leroy Cudjoe made the scoreline more respectable going over in the corner eight minutes from time with Paul Whatuira then notching the Giants' fourth touchdown.
