Leigh Leopards beat Huddersfield on their return to LSV

Darnell McIntosh celebrated his LSV debut with a try against his former club as Leopards turned their Den into home sweet home.

But Adrian Lam’s side was made to work hard to subdue a Giants side who had Andre Savelio sent off for a head shot on Robbie Mulhern after 58 minutes.

Leopards looked to have secured a vital victory when Kai O’Donnell and Zak Hardaker profited from Lachlan Lam’s creativity to register converted tries.

McIntosh had another effort debatably disallowed so when Elliot Wallis touched down for a second time with three minutes remaining the outcome wasn’t a foregone conclusion.

However, Leigh held out to leapfrog their visitors under the interim charge of Luke Robinson after Ian Watson’s departure last week.

And at this stage of the season only wins will do for the Leopards with further home fixtures coming up against London Broncos and St Helens.

McIntosh got the chance of only his third appearance in Leopard print as Josh Charnley’s rib injury prevented him extending a run of six tries in his four previous games against Giants.

And it was his former club that struck the opening blow. Swift ball transference between Lolohea, Clune and Halsall allowed Wallis, who scored in his team’s win five months earlier, to cross unopposed in the corner. Jake Connor missed the conversion.

Giants chased more points and only scrambling defence kept out Joe Greenwood, virtually the prop’s last involvement before a game ending injury.

Huddersfield’s own determination to protect their try line was evident when Edwin Ipape scooted from dummy half but was held up short. The same result ensued when Ipape latched on to Tom Amone’s offload.

Lam called for the cavalry after 24 minutes bringing on John Asiata and Aaron Pene-his home debut- for Mulhern and ex-Giant, Owen Trout.

The change, more by coincidence than design, brought an almost immediate response.

Connor claimed he’d been the victim of a ball strip. Instead, a knock on was called and from the scrum Leigh worked possession to their right where McIntosh dotted the ball down despite Wallis’s best efforts.

Moylan missed the conversion but a high tackle on Pene by Harry Rushton saw him land the penalty to give Leigh the lead for the first time.

Giants looked to be unravelling and lost winger Aidan McGowan and back row Sam Hewitt to head injury assessments.

Another penalty for offside propelled Leopards upfield and Gareth O’Brien was denied his team’s second try by Savelio’s fine tackle.

Leigh though fell behind again after 48 minutes, stemming from Pene’s loose pass 30 metres from the Giants’ line.

Jake Bibby and then McGowan quickly turned defence into attack. Former winger Pene tracked back to bring down McGowan but Giants stayed on the offensive and neat sleight of hand saw Connor race over.

Connor fluffed the conversion which allowed Moylan to bring Leigh level with a 57th minute penalty after sin binnings for Leopards’ Jack Hughes and Huddersfield’s Leigh born prop Chris Hill.

Leigh’s victory hopes were further boosted when Savelio was sent-off for the second time in his four-game Huddersfield career.

Instead, the 11-men grabbed a 63rd minute lead when Connor made it third time lucky with the boot from a 30-metres midfield penalty.

But Leigh finally eased clear as Asiata and Lam combined for O’Donnell to touch down. Hardaker quickly followed suit, improving his own try after Moylan improved O’Donnell’s effort.

McIntosh then thought he’d grabbed his second of the game. And while it was adjudged ‘no try’ on the field, replays suggested it would be overturned.

But referee Grant’s original decision stood which looked critical when Wallis scored after 77 minutes.

Instead, Leigh held on and their first appearance in front of their own fans after 64 days yielded two precious points towards a possible play-off berth.

Teams: Leigh: Moylan; McIntosh, Hanley, Leutele, Hardaker; O’Brien, Lam; Amone, Ipape, Mulhern, O’Donnell, Halton, Trout; interchanges: Pene, Asiata, Hughes, Dwyer.

Tries: McIntosh (26), O’Donnell (65), Hardaker (69).

Goals: Moylan 3/4 Hardaker 1/1.

Giants: Connor; McGowan, Bibby, Halsall, Wallis; Lolohea, Clune; Hill, Milner, Greenwood, Hewitt, Rushton, Yates; interchanges: Golding, Wilson, Savelio, Rogers.

Tries: Wallis (6 and 77), Connor (42).

Goals: Connor 2/4.

Half-time: 6-4.

Referee: Tom Grant.

Attendance: 7,160.