Giants in thriller!

May 19 2001 By The Huddersfield Daily Examiner

Leeds 52 - 46 Giants. WHAT a match!

After an almost unbelievable 80 minutes of Super League action, the Giants finished just one converted try behind the mighty Leeds in a 98-point bonanza.

It may not have been a game for the rugby league purist and it has left Huddersfield still searching for that elusive first win of the campaign.

Yet it was still an occasion to savour for those loyal visiting supporters who made the trip to Headingley and may have again been fearing the worst.

But instead of witnessing another Giants' capitulation, they were on hand to see records tumble in spectacular fashion.

For a start, the total of 46 points was the highest by Huddersfield in their four years of Super League existence.

Included in that was a new Giants' Super League goalscoring record of seven for Steve McNamara.

And only in one other match - the remarkable 44-24 eight-try triumph at Warrington a year ago - have Huddersfield scored seven tries back in the top flight.

But on a wider scale, the Giants now hold the record for the number of points scored by a losing side in Super League since its introduction in 1996.

Some may argue that's little to boast about.

However, on the evidence of last night it's certainly a step in the right direction.

Let's just hope that on this occasion the Giants are at last starting to turn the corner.

The signs would certainly suggest this may just be the case.

No-one could doubt the spirit and character of this side as they fought back from a 34-16 interval deficit to come so close to at least snatching a first point of the campaign.

Given the way in which the visitors finished the contest, Huddersfield will have felt bitterly disappointed that they weren't allowed just a few more minutes on the field.

Surely in that time they would have crossed once again and grabbed another try that their efforts so richly deserved.

And also on the evidence of last night, their second-half blues could now be behind them.

Not only did they match one of the so-called `big four' after the break, they actually outpointed them 30-18!

But at the same time, it would be wrong to get too carried away.

Yes, this was a much better overall performance.

However, the Giants still conceded nine tries and 52 points, with far two many missed tackles for head coach Tony Smith's liking.

Containing Leeds' numerous dangermen - Keith Senior was Giants enemy No 1 in that regard - is always a difficult task, but on several occasions the attempted tackles really did have to be called into question. Leeds tackling, too, was at times far from impres-sive, and it was good to see a Huddersfield side at last punishing the opposition for their inadequacies so clinically. It's not seen very often is it?

Another definite positive from the game was the debut of prop Mick Slicker.

He came off the bench and immediately made life difficult for the Leeds pack, helping to take some of the workload off the more established Giants forwards.

A second-half try wasn't a bad added bonus for the new recruit, and a starting spot for the home game against St Helens a week on Monday can't be ruled out.

But all seven Huddersfield tries were obviously a pleasure to watch.

That process got under way as earlier as the second minute as Brandon Costin finished off some excellent appropach play to open the scoring.

Ben Cooper's well-timed surge into the line brought try No2 in the 11th minute, and Paul Rowley crashed over on the stroke of half-time to make it three tries for the half.

In between, however, the signs had been ominous as Barrie McDermott, Marcus St Hilaire, Mark Calderwood, Robbie Mears, Iestyn Harris and Senior all registered scores.

Francis Cummins' try within three minutes of the restart added to the visitors' anxiety.

Fortunately, it was then that the Giants re-discovered their self belief.

Costin, Slicker and Martin Gleeson all scored to reduce the deficit to 40-34 and it was game on.

St Hilaire and Anthony Farrell again gave Leeds breathing space.

But, again, Huddersfield fought back, with Ben Kusto and David Lomax crossing to set up a grandstand finale.

It had all come a little too late, but it has still helped to offer some new hope for the future.

Leeds Rhinos Cummins; Calderwood (Mullins 47mins), Walker (Hay 40mins), Senior, St Hilaire; Harris, Burrow; Fleary (Mathiou 25mins), Mears, McDermott (Fleary 58mins, McDermott 69mins), Carroll, Farrell (Sinfield 71mins), Wrench.

Tries McDermott (8mins), St Hilaire (18mins & 60mins), Calderwood (24mins), Mears (29mins), Harris (31mins), Senior (34mins), Cummins (43mins), Farrell (68mins).

Goals Harris 8 from 10.

Huddersfield Giants Cooper; Frew, Cardoza, Costin, Gleeson; Thorman, Kusto; Laughton (Molloy 25mins, Molyneux 46mins, Slicker 72mins), Rowley, Marshall (Lomax 58mins), Lomax (Slicker 27mins, Laughton 58mins), Atkins, McNamara.

Tries Costin (2mins & 46mins), Cooper (11mins), Rowley (38mins), Slicker (51mins), Gleeson (53mins), Kusto (77mins), Lomax (79mins).

Goals McNamara 7 from 8.

Half-time 34-16.

Referee Steve Ganson (St Helens).

Attendance 11,579.

Scrums won Leeds 3, Huddersfield 3.

Penalties conceded Leeds 6, Huddersfield 6.

Top Huddersfield tacklers Atkins 26, McNamara 25, Marshall 23.