Huddersfield Giants secured their third win of the season with a 26-16 victory against Salford Red Devils at the AJ Bell Stadium. Two tries from Owen Trout proved crucial as the visitors moved up three places to sixth in the Betfred Super League table.
The beginning of the game could have been more active, with Huddersfield dominating possession and territory but struggling to convert their opportunities into points. It took until the 11th minute for them to break the deadlock, with Ash Golding capitalizing on a wayward pass from Marc Sneyd to stroll over for an easy try. Olly Russell added the extras to give the Giants a 6-0 lead.
Salford was penalized for offside shortly afterward, and Russell slotted over the resulting penalty to extend Huddersfield’s lead to 8-0. The Red Devils finally got on the scoreboard in the 32nd minute when Shane Wright scored a touchdown, and Sneyd added a conversion to make the score 8-6.
However, Huddersfield hit back quickly, with Kevin Naiqama breaking through to set up Owen Trout for a try. Russell added the extras to give the Giants a 14-6 lead at half-time. The second half got off to a bad start for Huddersfield, as after only three minutes, Will Pryce limped off with a foot injury. Salford took advantage of the disruption, attacking to the left and allowing Matty Costello to dive over acrobatically in the corner. However, Sneyd could not convert, leaving the Red Devils four points behind.
Huddersfield responded with a penalty goal from Russell, which extended their lead to 16-10. The game was evenly balanced until Trout’s second try in the 66th minute when Matty English set him up. Russell added the extras to give the Giants a 22-10 lead.
Naiqama’s offload gave Chris McQueen enough time to score in the right-hand corner and seal the victory before Salford’s Kallum Watkins scored a late consolation try. The victory was a much-needed boost for Huddersfield, who had struggled for form early in the season. It also marked a significant improvement on their previous meeting with Salford, which they lost 18-0 two weeks earlier.
Owen Trout was the standout performer for Huddersfield, with his two tries proving the difference between the two sides. The 22-year-old forward has been in impressive form this season, and his performance against Salford will have made his chances of selection for the England squad no harm.
Olly Russell deserves credit for his kicking performance, with five successful conversions from six attempts. The 23-year-old half-back has been a consistent performer for Huddersfield this season, and his accuracy from the tee was crucial in securing the victory.
It was a disappointing result for Salford, but there were positives to take from the performance. Matty Costello’s try was a moment of real quality, and the Red Devils will have been encouraged by their ability to stay in the game until the closing stages.
However, they must improve quickly to avoid being dragged into a relegation battle. With just two wins from their opening eight games, Salford currently sits in ninth place in the Super League table, just two points clear of bottom-placed Leigh Centurions.