Australians keep Broncos on the road to success

Huddersfield Giants 22 London Broncos 3

London Broncos are enjoying life on the road as they achieved their third away win in four attempts with a surprisingly comfortable success at the McAlpine Stadium to move level on points with the Giants in Super League.

Huddersfield's hopes of challenging for a top-six place after a bright start to the campaign following their promotion have been hampered by successive home defeats. At times this was a display more reminiscent of some of their darker moments in the top flight when they finished bottom for four successive seasons between 1998-2001.

A second-half improvement failed to dim the view that this was a terrific opportunity wasted to notch another two points towards the initial target of 16 they need to stave off another relegation fight.

The Broncos had the creative edge in Australian stars Jim Dymock and Dennis Moran while young English players like Rob Purdham and Chris Thorman, the latter who starred for Huddersfield last season, are being given plenty of opportunities. The Broncos had eight English players in a squad that not long ago was dominated by Australians as they pursue a long-term policy of reducing their dependence on imports.

Despite falling behind to an early Paul March try, converted by Steve McNamara, the Broncos built a 24-6 lead after 42 minutes with Tony Martin and Andrew King each scoring two tries. King twice out-jumped Hefin O'Hare to hanging kicks from Dymock and then Moran while Martin showed terrific footwork for a dodging close-range try before shrugging off Stanley Gene's tackle for his second.

Austin Buchanan, a youngster on loan from Leeds, also crashed over in the corner after Moran's fine long pass.

Huddersfield sparked a revival with two quick-fire tries to close the gap to eight points. McNamara and Brandon Costin combined to send Alex Wilkinson over in the corner before Darren Turner forced his way over from dummy half. Twenty-five minutes remained but, despite dominating possession and territory, the home side were unable to break through again as London defended with impressive resilience in an increasingly scrappy encounter.

Another brilliantly judged Dymock kick, this time to the right-wing, enabled Buchanan to grab the clinching try for the visitors nine minutes from time, Martin hitting his third goal from seven attempts. The Giants responded with the game's best try, a length-of-the-field counter-attack sparked by O'Hare and finished by Marcus St Hilaire but the damage had been done in the first half.

Huddersfield: St Hilaire; O'Hare, Bailey, Gene, Wilkinson; Costin, McNamara; Gannon, March, Fleary, Bloem, Colella, O'Doherty. Subs (all used): Slicker, Turner, Cooper, Grayshon.

London: Roy; Buchanan, Martin, Jackson, King; Purdham, Moran; Bawden, Peden, Retchless, Toshack, Kennedy, Dymock. Subs (all used): Hall, Budworth, Stephenson, Thorman.

Referee: R Smith (Castleford)

* The Warrington coach, Paul Cullen, could not praise his side enough after their derby victory over Widnes on Saturday. Cullen said the Wolves produced one of the best displays of his tenure, which began with defeat by Widnes nine months ago, as they ripped their local rivals apart 34-6 at Wilderspool. Cullen, who saw his side thrashed 56-6 by St Helens on Easter Monday, said: "I think that must rank as one of the best wins since my return. It was about learning the lessons of the punishment we took at Knowsley Road. "

* The Australian hooker Dean Treister is poised to make his debut for Hull in today's Super League match at Castleford, 48 hours after flying into the country. The 27-year-old, who was released by Cronulla after a fall-out with coach Chris Anderson, had difficulty getting a flight because of the Sars virus but finally landed on Saturday.