Huddersfield captain Danny Brough had to convert a Jermaine McGillvary last-minute try in the corner to salvage a point for the Giants in a 22-22 draw against Catalans Dragons in the opening game of the second day of the Magic Weekend.
In an untidy first half, with the Dragons conceding numerous penalties, the Giants moved into a 10-0 inveval lead with a try from Jodie Broughton, with Brough adding the conversion and two penalties.
And when Broughton scored his second try after 44 minutes, with Brough again converting, the game looked over for the Catalans.
But they began their fightback with a try from Eloi Pelissier, goaled by Scott Dureau, and they scored a second through Todd Carney, with Dureau’s goal reducing the deficit to four points.
Zeb Tais then put the scores level with a typically well taken try, as he scattered the Giants’ defender, and Dureau’s goal gave the Catalans the lead for the first time.
But on 72 minutes came the most controversial moment of the match, when McGillvary appeared to tackle Dureau high as the Catalans halfback tried to touch down. He lost the ball and it was then touched down by Carney. But the video referee declined to award a penalty try, and Dureau missed the conversion, which would have been much easier if a penalty try had been awarded, and it left the score at 22-16 in favour of the Dragons.
It was left to McGillvary, who took a brilliant long pass from Kyle Wood, to touch down in the corner to give Brough the chance to equalise.
The Huddersfield captain kept his nerve and added a brilliant converstion to level the scores.
A full report from this game will feature in Monday’s edition of League Express.
