Huddersfield win at Bradford

Huddersfield Giants claimed their first league win at Bradford Bulls for 40 years with a 16-12 success on Friday evening.

Tries from Martin Aspinwall, Jamahl Lolesi and Stephen Wilde proved enough for the Giants to follow their shock opening 30-8 win over Catalans Dragons in Perpignan with a second major scalp in three matches.

The Bulls, who gave a debut to former Harlequins second-rower Michael Worrincy, opened a 6-0 lead after 19 minutes courtesy of three Paul Deacon penalties, two of them from beyond 40 metres.

With Sam Burgess and veteran Australian Steve Menzies setting a superb lead, the Bradford pack quickly seized control during an impressive opening.

But it was the Giants who scored the game's first try with their first meaningful attack on 22 minutes when second-rower Andy Raleigh squeezed out a pass for winger Aspinwall to cross in the corner.

Huddersfield brought on David Faiumu, Lolesi and Danny Kirmond from the bench to build on the momentum and they took the lead a minute before the interval when Lolesi raced onto a perfectly-judged grubber kick from full-back Brett Hodgson, who added the conversion.

Injuries

Simon Finnigan, playing against his former employers, hobbled off early in the second half after following a huge tackle from the impressive Burgess.

The Bulls lost Deacon with a cut head - but not before he had restored his side's lead by converting their first try of the match on 44 minutes.

Stand-off Ben Jeffries released Glen Morrison into a gap and he had the strength to force his way over the line.

Deacon's fourth successful kick from as many attempts made it 12-10 but Huddersfield struck back after 56 minutes when Hodgson got stand-off Kevin Brown striding through a hole and second-rower Wilde was in support to finish off.

Hodgson's second conversion made it 16-12 as the game entered a thrilling final quarter dominated by the home side.

But the Giants produced some staunch defence to hold on for the result and continue their bright start under new coach Nathan Brown.