HUDDERSFIELD GIANTS 36 BARROW RAIDERS 20
LORRAINE MARSDEN, Laund Hill, Sunday

HUDDERSFIELD survived a second-half fightback by winless Barrow to strengthen their spot at the top of the new Shield table, and cement their position as the nearest challengers to break the monopoly of the top four.

The Raiders pulled themselves back from a 22-4 half-time deficit to go into the final 15 minutes just two points behind, but a quickfire double from Sam Hulme allowed the hosts pull away.

The visitors got away to a strong start when a six-again during their opening set led to Emma Hutchinson going over wide out, although Nicole Stewart was unable to add the conversion.

But from then on the Giants began to find their groove and levelled before the quarter-hour mark when Maddie Clegg raced the length of the field for their first, before the they went in front through Liv Gale’s try, with Hulme landing the goal.

Huddersfield extended their lead before the break with two further tries, the first coming after a penalty, with Amy Bennett running a great line before cutting back in to touch down near the posts, before Hulme went in down the right edge for her first of the afternoon. She also added both conversions to make it 22-4 at the break.

As with the first half, it was Barrow who struck first after the restart when Jodie Morley and Bethany Pattinson combined to send Vanessa Temple over, with Stewart adding the two.

Barrow found some momentum and were in again just minutes later when Stewart put Leah Clough through a gap.

When Huddersfield were penalised for a high shot, Mia Dobson took full advantage to crash over between the posts, with Stewart adding the conversion to reduce the deficit to just two points.

But Barrow were unable to complete the comeback as Hulme crossed twice more to complete a well-taken hat-trick, Hulme improving the second, before Clegg claimed her second to secure the victory.

GIANTS: 5 Mollie Iceton, 2 Faye Barraclough, 31 Caitlin Cox, 29 Charlotte McDaid, 28 Madison Clegg, 26 Liv Gale, 6 Becky Grady, 10 Lauren Exley, 9 Meg Preston, 8 Gracie Hobbs, 11 Amy Bennett, 12 Maddy Hutchison, 15 Georgia Cussons. Subs (all used): 7 Sam Hulme, 14 Jess Harrap, 17 Kacy Haley, 20 Leah Mae Beckett

Tries: Clegg (14, 79), Gale (23), Bennett (30), Hulme (35, 66, 70); Goals: Grady 0/1, Hulme 4/6

RAIDERS: 1 Sam Norman, 2 Chloe Capstick, 3 Emily Stirzaker, 5 Emma Hutchinson, 19 Blossom Howell, 9 Beth Lindsay, 7 Beth Pattinson, 8 Leah Clough, 14 Leah Cottier, 10 Jodie Morley, 11 Lucy Dickinson, 12 Vanessa Temple, 13 Nicole Stewart. Subs (all used): 15 Jodie Crawford, 16 Mia Dobson, 17 Kelly Friend, 26 Darcy Southward

Tries: E Hutchinson (3), Temple (53), L Clough (58), Dobson (63); Goals: Stewart 2/4

SCORING SEQUENCE: 0-4, 4-4, 10-4, 16-4, 22-4; 22-10, 22-14, 22-20, 26-20, 32-20, 36-20

Half-time: 22-4; Referee: Shea Harrison