ST HELENS 28 HUDDERSFIELD GIANTS 20
LORRAINE MARSDEN, Crusader Park, Sunday
ST HELENS were pushed all the way by an ever-improving Huddersfield, and needed a 75th-minute score from Faye Gaskin to cement victory.
The game was nip and tuck for the full 80 with the sides trading scores throughout.
Dani McGifford got Saints off to the perfect start when she strolled in for the opener, which went unconverted by Gaskin.
But just minutes, later Maddy Hutchison took in a short pass to level the scores, before Sam Hulme nudged the Giants in front with the goal.
Saints regained a narrow lead after Rachael Woosey crossed, but Huddersfield hit back through Mollie Iceton, who gathered a kick to score wide out.
In the final ten minutes of the first half there was a quickfire double from Saints with McGifford grabbing her second before Gaskin found her way over. She converted her own score for an 18-10 lead at the break.
Huddersfield came back out firing, with Iceton claiming her second just minutes after the restart.
But with the hour-mark approaching, Woosey crossed for her second, before Amelia Brown once again responded and Hulme goaled to get Huddersfield to within two points.
A nervy final 20 minutes played out before a powerful carry from Vicky Whitfield put Gaskin in for the crucial score, which she improved.
SAINTS: 1 Rebecca Rotheram, 5 Leah Burke, 4 Amy Hardcastle, 3 Rachael Woosey, 25 Dani McGifford, 6 Zoe Harris, 7 Faye Gaskin, 11 Shona Hoyle-Holdsworth, 17 Caitlin Casey, 16 Erin McDonald, 20 Alyx Bridge, 12 Emily Rudge, 13 Jodie Cunningham. Subs (all used): 8 Vicky Whitfield, 9 Katie Mottershead, 21 Hollie Bawden, 28 Jadine McVernon
Tries: McGifford (4, 35), Woosey (17, 55), Gaskin (38, 75); Goals: Gaskin 2/6
GIANTS: 1 Amelia Brown, 2 Faye Barraclough, 3 Elle Frain, 16 Eva Izumi, 5 Mollie Iceton, 7 Sam Hulme, 30 Tegan Sant, 8 Gracie Hobbs, 9 Meg Preston, 10 Lauren Exley, 11 Amy Bennett, 12 Maddy Hutchison, 15 Georgia Cussons. Subs (all used): 28 Abigail Liu, 14 Jess Harrap, 17 Kacy Haley, 29 Charlotte McDaid
Tries: Hutchison (11), Iceton (28, 42), Brown (59); Goals: Hulme 2/4
SCORING SEQUENCE: 4-0, 4-6, 8-6, 8-10, 12-10, 18-10; 18-14, 22-14, 22-20, 28-20
Half-time: 18-10