Super League: Huddersfield Giants let slip 24-6 half-time lead
Hull KR scored two converted tries in the closing stages to snatch a point in a dramatic 24-24 draw with Huddersfield.
Last Updated: 23/02/14 6:30pm
The Giants looked set to follow up their opening win over reigning champions Wigan with another victory when they led 24-6 at the end of an eventful first half that had seen two players sent to the sin bin.
However Rovers returned after the break a much-improved side, Jordan Cox cutting the gap to 12 when he crashed over from close range in the 44th minute.
Still, the visitors looked set to suffer a second successive defeat until joint captain Josh Hodgson and then Omari Caro went over in a frantic finish, Travis Burns converting both to bring the two sides level.
Such a stunning finish hadn't seemed likely when Huddersfield dominated a first period that included a nine-minute delay in proceedings while Jamie Langley underwent treatment on the field for a leg injury.
Brawl
There was also a stoppage in proceedings when a mass brawl broke out, resulting in Huddersfield's Jason Chan and Rovers' Justin Poore being sin-binned once order had eventually been restored.
The Giants were down to 11 men for a spell when centre Joe Wardle became the third player to be shown a yellow card, this time for holding down Kris Welham after halting his 60-metre break out of defence.
Yet even with their numerical advantage, Rovers struggled to break down Huddersfield's superbly-marshalled defence.
Hooker Hodgson twice lost the ball going for the line and the visitors' only first-half score came after 31 minutes when strong work from substitute Adam Walker created the space for winger Caro to go over.
By that stage, however, Huddersfield had already crossed three times at the other end. Danny Brough got the first of them, quickly followed by a try for his half-back partner, Luke Robinson.
The Giants were firmly in command when hooker Kyle Wood twisted out of the tackle to stretch over, Brough's second conversion making it 16-0.
Robinson brace
Caro finally got Rovers on the scoreboard, but Brough added a further penalty and Robinson scored his second shortly before the hooter sounded, making the most of a break by forward substitute Ukuma Ta'ai.
Cox stretched out for the line to register his team's second try soon after the interval, with Burns adding the goal to make it 24-12.
Huddersfield thought they had scored again when Wood went over but referee Phil Bentham disallowed the try for a double movement by Brough, while Brett Ferres also had one chalked off for offside.
The let-offs allowed Rovers to rally; Hodgson crossed three minutes from the end after full-back Greg Eden's high kick wasn't dealt with by opposite number Scott Grix, and there was just enough time for Caro to make the most of an overlap and sprint 60 metres for a try that Burns successfully converted.