Hull 22 Huddersfield 16: Sharp bemoans Giants' error count

Huddersfield's best season in Super League ended fittingly, with a performance of stark contrasts. Overawed by the occasion for much of the game, the Giants suddenly found their confidence in the last few minutes and came close to making Hull pay for not finishing them off when they had the chance.

Two late tries, both set up by the irrepressible Brad Drew, brought Huddersfield to within one score of victory and their coach, John Sharp, was adamant afterwards that in another few minutes they would have won the game and progressed to the next stage of the play-offs.

"We had all the momentum," he said. "The feeling among the players is that we were so close, but that our performance showed that we were in the top six on merit."

Like Huddersfield's season, their first experience of the play-offs began dismally, with a string of handling mistakes that virtually obliged Hull to take a 10-point lead. The fightback was commendable, but the Giants had too much to do. Hull, who now play Wigan at the KC Stadium next Saturday, were not convincing. They made plenty of errors and would have been punished by less nervous opposition.

Hull: Tony; Sing, Whiting, Yeaman, Raynor; R Horne, Head; Dowes, Lee, Carvell, Radford, Manu, Tickle. Substitutes used: Wheeldon, Godwin, Washbrook, King.

Huddersfield: Thorman; Reilly, Lolesi, Nero, Jensen; Brown, Drew; Mason, Hudson, Skandalis, Raleigh, Jones, Wild. Substitutes used: Paul, Griffin, Snitch, Crabtree.

Referee: A Kline (London).