The fourth placed side in the Super League Super 8s, the Huddersfield Giants, were the visitors to Langtree Park to take on third placed St Helens. Thanks to their sensational defence, the tightest in the competition, the Giants just needed a win to jump above their hosts on points difference.
The Saints were still smarting from their three consecutive losses to Leeds, the Dragons and Hull FC while the Giants had a confident home win over the Catalans Dragons last week after losing their opening Super 8s game to Wigan Warriors. Saints had been the victors on both previous meetings in 2015, but both times by very close margins.
After competitive early exchanges, Kyle Amor opened the Saints account on ten when he powered his way over the line to ground with an outstretched hand just under the uprights. Luke Walsh added the easy extras.
The Giants responded within three minutes when Jamie Ellis caught the Saints defence cold when he went from first receiver from the scrum base to step past his marker and dive between the posts allowing Danny Brough to level the scores.
On eighteen it was Ukuma Ta'ai who slid over after slipping out of the tackle of Louis McCarthy-Scarsbrook to give the visitors the lead and when Brough added the goal that lead was 12-6.
On twenty-three Saints were penalised for being offside and and Brough took the opportunity to extend the lead to eight points.
Saints upped the ante with ten minutes remaining and took the game to the Giants After six consecutive penalties in their own twenty Michael Lawrence was sin-binned after a team warning had been issued. Two penalties later and James Roby finally made the pressure count as he went over from acting half-back. The hooter sounded as Walsh kicked the conversion and the margin at the interval was just two points, leaving the home supporters wondering why their side were so lacklustre in the opening thirty.
Three minutes into the second half and Joe Wardle put the twelve men of Huddersfield back to eight points clear when he crashed over after a Brough dummy and pass. Brough kicked the goal for 20-12.
This time it was Saints who responded within three minutes when Tommy Makinson slid over in the right corner on a big overlap as the Giants defence came infield. Walsh hit the upright with the conversion attempt leaving his side four points adrift.
On forty-nine Saints were level when a cross-field kick from Walsh was palmed back by Makinson into the hands of Mark Percival who slipped out a back-door pass to Travis Burns to dive over. Walsh was once again off target and the scores stood at twenty apiece.
When Danny Brough went for broke and put a twenty-metre tap out on the full, Luke Walsh kicked the penalty for two to give his side the lead.
The game then swung in the Giants direction. On sixty-one Jermaine McGillvary scored in the corner off a Cudjoe pass, but Brough missed the conversion from out wide but once again the Giants had the lead at 24-22.
On sixty-eight Murphy scored down the left wing to put the Giants six clear, but again Brough missed the difficult goal and the Giants led by just six with twelve minutes remaining, setting up a grand stand finish.
The Giants absorbed the Saints pressure and when Saints spilled the ball on the Giants forty within the last minute the Giants played keep-ball and ran the clock to eighty to pick up the two points and jump above the Saints into third spot.
The Saints have now lost four on the run but will finish the weekend in fourth unless Castleford can thrash (by 87 points or more) the Catalans Dragons on Saturday afternoon. The Giants seem to be coming good at the right end of the season and are positioning themselves for a tilt at the Grand Final.
Never write off the Saints but they are now at rock bottom on confidence and have to wait two weeks before they can get back on the horse and try and cement their top four place, the next game, away at Headingley against the Rhinos.
Saints: Quinlan, Makinson (T), Percival, Jones, Swift, Burns (T), Walsh (3G), Walmsley, Roby (T), Amor (T), Greenwood, McCarthy-Scarsbrook, Thompson. Subs: Masoe, Turner, Savelio, Richards.
Giants: Grix, McGillvary (T), Cudjoe, Connor, Murphy (T), Brough (4G), Ellis (T), Crabtree, Robinson, Huby, Wardle (T), Hughes, Ta'ai (T). Subs: Lawrence (SB), Kopczak, Leeming, Smith.
Referee: Richard Silverwood
Attendance: 10,926
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