 Paul Reilly tries to break though the Leeds defence |
Leeds: (12) 12
Tries: Donald, Poching
Goals: Sinfield 2Huddersfield: (12) 30
Tries: Donlan (2), Nero (2), De Vere
Goals: De Vere (5)
Two tries apiece from Chris Nero and Stuart Donlan helped Huddersfield beat Leeds and set up a Powergen Challenge Cup final meeting with St Helens.
Although Leeds took an early lead through Scott Donald, they looked below par for much of the game.
The Giants looked the livelier as they claimed an easy win to reach their first Challenge Cup final since 1962.
Nero and Donlan crossed in either half while Australian Michael De Vere landed five goals and scored a late try.
Leeds were dealt a major blow before the kick-off with leading try scorer Danny McGuire ruled out with a shin injury, and they could have gone behind early on only for the video referee to disallow a Donlan effort.
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When Donald went over, it looked like Leeds might exert their dominance but they were stifled by Huddersfield who took the game to their Yorkshire rivals from the start.
After Nero went over for the first of his efforts, Donlon capitalised on a moment of indecision by Donald to give his side the lead for the first time.
Just before the break, Chris Thorman gave away a crucial penalty and from the resulting play Willie Poching broke through for the try, converted by Kevin Sinfield to leave the sides level at the break.
But the second half was all Huddersfield as Leeds made too many errors and never looked like breaking through their opponents' defence.
Nero and Donlan both crossed again to stretch the lead and late on, De Vere sealed the win with his try.
Huddersfield coach Jon Sharp "I know the club has had some really bad times over the last decade or so, so I am really pleased for all the people in the club.
"We came into the game in decent form and we knew we had to be very good because Leeds are a great outfit.
"We had to raise the bar and be as good as we possibly could be."
Leeds coach Tony Smith "I am bitterly disappointed. We could not have put together a much worse first half and I thought the worst had gone but we didn't get much better in the second.
"We made too many errors and the Giants played consistently well.
"It's a very true game and the effort put in usually rewards the team that deserves to win, and that happened today."
Huddersfield: Reilly, Aspinwall, Wild, De Vere, Donlan, Thorman, Paul, Jackson, Drew, Gannon, Nero, Smith, Jones.
Replacements: Crabtree, Snitch, Mason, Raleigh.
Leeds: Smith, Donald, Walker, Senior, Gibson, Sinfield, Burrow, Jones-Buchanan, Diskin, Scruton, Lauitiiti, Peacock, Ellis.
Replacements: Kirke, Millard, Poching, Bailey.
Referee: R Silverwood (Dewsbury)
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Reaction: Leeds 12-30 Huddersfield