Robinson starts Giants tenure with win over London

Betfred Super League

Huddersfield Giants (14) 22

Tries: Lolohea 2, Rushton Goals: Russell 5

London Broncos (6) 16

Tries: Stock, Miloudi, Adebiyi Goals: Leyland 2

Luke Robinson began his tenure as permanent Huddersfield Giants head coach with a hard-fought victory against Super League bottom side London Broncos.

Tui Lolohea grabbed two tries before the break to put the hosts 14-6 up, after Marcus Stock's try had given the Bronco the advantage.

Oli Leyland was instrumental in the visitors' reply, with grubber kicks from the stand-off setting Hakim Miloudi and Sadiq Adebiyi up for tries that put London ahead again.

Two Olly Russell penalties in quick succession restored Giants' lead and a late Harry Rushton try, after Will Lovell was shown a yellow card for London, completed the tense victory at John Smith's Stadium.

Robinson has now overseen three wins from his nine games since first taking interim charge in mid-July.

After he was named Ian Watson’s permanent replacement earlier in the week, the former Giants and England playmaker said the West Yorkshire side have the potential be a Super League force to be reckoned with.

But a resurgent Broncos, who suffered a golden-point extra-time loss to Leeds Rhinos a week earlier, pushed the Giants to the very end.

After dealing with 10 minutes of relentless pressure, a 40/20 kick from Leyland set London up for their first real raid of the afternoon - with Stock eventually powering his way over the line for the game’s first try.

A Miloudi knock-on for London handed Huddersfield a way back into the game, with Lolohea touching down under the posts after Jarred Bassett failed to deal with a grubber kick through from the Tongan.

Russell restored parity with the conversion and then put the hosts ahead for the first time with a penalty after Adam Clune was taken out as he sent up a kick.

Fine footwork from Kevin Naiqama, as he tore away for an 80m-solo dash, ended up with Lolohea adding to the half-time advantage as he cantered into the corner.

The Giants' inability to deal with some deft kicking from Leyland saw London reclaim the lead inside the first 12 minutes of the second half as Miloudi and Adebiyi grabbed tries.

Russell, however, was allowed to tee up two penalties in five minutes to edge the Giants back ahead and, after Lovell was sin-binned for a late hit on the scrum-half, Rushton ensured the points with less than three minutes remaining when he crashed over the line.

Huddersfield Giants: Lolohea, McGowan, Marsters, Naiqama, Bibby, Clune, Russell, Hill, Deakin, Greenwood, Livett, Rushton, Cudjoe.

Interchanges: Rush, Ikahihifo, English, Wilson.

London Broncos: Rourke, Kershaw, Natoli, Bassett, Miloudi, O Leyland, Campagnolo, Butler, Davis, Kennedy, Lovell, Adebiyi, Stock.

Interchanges: Tison, Bienek, Jones, Waine.

Sin-bin: Lovell.

Referee: James Vella.