Super League: Huddersfield Giants keep Super 8 hopes alive with Hull win
Last Updated: 01/07/16 6:53am
Huddersfield kept their Super 8 hopes alive with a 22-12 win over league leaders Hull FC on Thursday night.
The Giants went 8-0 ahead at half-time thanks to a try from Michael Lawrence and a conversion and penalty from Jamie Ellis. Hull FC were first to score in the second half to make it 8-6, before tries from Tom Symonds and two from Jermaine McGillvary sealed victory for the Giants at the John Smith's Stadium.
The win means Huddersfield are still in with a slender chance to make the Top 8s at the end of the regular season, though that chance will be eradicated if Widnes beat Leeds on Sunday.
Huddersfield were strong in the early stages of the game but it looked as though Hull would showcase their credentials as the game wore on as they threatened the opposition line.
Despite the fightback from the visitors it was Huddersfield who were first on the board.
Ellis put in a deft kick into the in-goal area and Lawrence was first to the ball as he dotted down in his 199th appearance for the Giants.
Ellis converted and had the final say of the first half when he slotted a penalty to hand his side an eight-point lead going into the break.
Steve Michaels was close to being the first to notch a score in the second half but as he stretched for the line man-of-the-match Jake Connor knocked the ball out of his hand.
Hull still managed to hit back, with Washbrook seeing off two Giants tackles to crash over from close range and make it 8-6 following the conversion.
Symonds then scored for the home side, with a kick ahead taking a fortunate bounce off the base of the upright and hitting Washbrook before bouncing over the tryline where Symonds dived onto it for a 14-6 lead.
McGillvary then crossed in the corner, with a pass from Connor appearing to go forward as it went to ground, which caused the Hull defence to switch off. McGillvary picked up the bouncing ball to spring for the corner and score.
Ellis failed to convert but McGillvary added another four points when Connor freed his hands in the tackle after drawing the last two defenders to pop to his winger for a second try in as many minutes as the Giants stretched to a 22-6 lead.
Hull had the game's final score with a late try from Mahe Fonua but it was not enough as Huddersfield held on for the win.