Sloppy Giants made to suffer

Apr 17 2001 By Chris Roberts, The Huddersfield Daily Examiner

Giants 16 - 24 Widcats. IF ever a team helped inflict defeat on themselves, then it was the Giants yesterday.

After gifting a side a 16-point lead for a second successive contest and then throwing away countless chances, the Giants once again had only themselves to blame.

And to rub salt into some very deep wounds, wasn't it ironic that Giants `reject' Waisale Sovatabua should have the final say and add to the misery at the McAlpine?

His try in the final seconds after intercepting Steve McNamara's speculative long pass hammered the final nail in the coffin and condemned the Giants to a sixth straight defeat to leave them rooted firmly at the foot of the table.

But it really should never have come to this.

By that 79th minute Huddersfield should have been home and dry after wasting a catalogue of gilt-edged chances.

Inspirational Wakefield full-back Martin Holland had a big part to play in this scenario, pulling of three or four try-saving tackles.

But he was only in a position to do this because of the Giants' shameful mistake of continuing to take the wrong option at the crucial moment.

Chris Thorman's decision to go for the corner rather than pass inside to a supporting colleague after a superb initial break was the shining example.

Yet frustrated Giants coach Tony Smith was left to reflect on a whole host of wasted opportunities.

It also didn't help that Brandon Costin was denied a `try' in the 68th minute when he collected a loose ball after it appeared to have gone through Dale Cardoza's legs.

Referee Steve Ganson, however, ruled a knock-on, much to the annoyance of the home contingent who believed they had made the all-important breakthrough.

It would have put the Giants ahead for the first time after they had battled back so strongly after another nightmare start.

Against London on Friday, Huddersfield allowed their opponents to build up a 16-0 lead inside 10 minutes.

Yesterday it took just that little longer. Sixteen minutes to be precise.

Within five minutes the home side had conceded the opening score when a frantic pass was thrown out on the last tackle for Ben Rauter to collect and burst over.

Martin Pearson failed to convert, but was on target six minutes later when former Giant Jamie Field crashed over from close range.

Holland then pulled off his first try-scoring tackle to deny Ben Kusto before the Wildcats extended the lead when the full-back turned attacker to feed Rauter for his second.

And it could have been worse had Sovatabua not knocked-on with the line at his mercy after Martin Gleeson had lost the ball in the tackle.

But, just like against the Broncos three days before, Huddersfield came alive as the half progressed.

By the 29th minute they had opened their account when Thorman's long pass put Gleeson away and created the opening for Costin to charge over.

That lead was further reduced four minutes later when Graham Appo showed great strength to barge over his markers and score from close range.

McNamara added the extras and the lead was just six points.

Pearson's penalty on the stroke of half-time edged Wakefield further ahead, but in the second period Huddersfield came out all guns blazing.

McNamara should really have been on target with a penalty attempt within a minute of the restart, but by the 52nd minute there were just two points between the sides, courtesy of a superb solo strike from Kusto.

Collecting the ball 30 yards out, the scrum half dummied through a gap and showed an electric turn of pace to race clear of the defence and run round to score nearer the posts for McNamara to convert.

The Giants were now definitely on top.

But with a combination of blown chances and never-say-die Wildcats defence, that first win remains elusive.

McNamara, David Atkins, Appo and Lomax may all have scored on another day.

On this occasion it wasn't to be on another day of frustration.

Huddersfield Giants Appo; Frew, Costin, Cardoza Gleeson; Thorman, Kusto; Marshall (Molyneux 30mins, Laughton 52mins), Rowley, Laughton (Molloy 24mins), Lomax (Turner 49mins), Atkins, McNamara. Sub not used: Moxon.

Tries Costin (29mins), Appo (33mins), Kusto (52mins).

Goals McNamara 2 from 4.

Wakefield Trinity Wildcats Holland; Smith, Haughey, Brooker, Sovatabua; Pearson, March; O'Neill (Watene 59mins), Rauter (Field 70mins), Watene (Jackson 32mins), Hudson, Poching (Ellis 32mins) Field (Harbin 58mins).

Tries Rauter (5mins and 16mins), Field (11mins), Sovatabua (79mins).

Goals Pearson 3 from 4.

Half-time 10-18.

Referee Steve Ganson (St Helens).

Attendance 3,516.

Scrums won Huddersfield 5, Wakefield 7

Penalties conceded Huddersfield 9, Wakefield 8

Top Huddersfield tacklers Atkins 42, Rowley 29, McNamara 27, Lomax 25, Laughton 24, Costin 24.

Huddersfield Giants' Alliance Championship clash against Wigan on Wednesday will now take place at Orrell (7.30).

It was originally to be staged at Emley FC until the club were forced to move.