Second-half errors costly

Jan 7 2002 By Chris Roberts, The Huddersfield Daily Examiner

A POINT lost or a point gained?

That was the question being posed by the Giants after their thrilling 12-12 draw at Whitehaven.

After opening up a 12-0 interval lead and looking in complete control, the visitors were pegged back after the break and in the end could have been reflecting on a first defeat of the season.

Chris Thorman almost made it five wins out of five when two drop goal attempts in the final two minutes sailed agonisingly wide.

But on the evidence of Huddersfield's second-half showing a last-minute win would have been somewhat undeserved.

The Giants may boast a full-time squad, yet it was Whitehaven who looked the stronger as the game progressed.

They, too, had a chance to snatch a late win, but Steve Kirkbride's 76th-minute drop goal was off target.

So, in the end, the sides had to settle for a share of the spoils after a truly cracking game of rugby league.

Yet there really was a distinct feeling coming out of both camps that the win should have been theirs.

Whitehaven officials were confidently predicting their team would triumph before kick-off.

The manner of their win over Cumbrian rivals Workington Town had put them in upbeat mood, and they were clearly ready for the challenge.

However, the early signs suggested their brave boasts were about to fall on rocky ground.

Having weathered an early Whitehaven storm, the Giants began to get on top.

Between the ninth and 15th minutes Whitehaven were forced to drop out from under their posts on four occasions.

But every time, superb defence from the home side denied the opposition - until the 16th minute.

Having been awarded a penalty deep inside Whitehaven territory, Huddersfield opted to take the tap.

The ball was immediately fed out to the right and Eorl Crabtree drove the ball to the line and popped the pass up for Hefin O'Hare to finish off.

In the absence of Steve McNamara who suffered a slight leg muscle pull in the warm-up, Thorman was unable to land the touchline conversion.

But the Giants were on their way, and within three minutes Thorman had extended the advantage with a successful penalty.

Yet even though the visitors were in command, the warning signs were there.

Winger Paul O'Neill was held up on the line and only a superb tackle from Paul Reilly prevented Kirkbride from scoring.

The Giants' response, however, was magnificent and by the break it appeared as if the foundations for another success had been laid.

Six minutes before the break Thorman added a second penalty and three minutes later his side grabbed their second try.

This time the ball was kept alive superbly on the sixth tackle and eventually it found its way out to Andy Rice who fed Paul March to dive over.

Again Thorman was unable to find the target from wide out, but a 12-point lead against such tough opponents was a great interval tonic.

And the early second-half signs were just as promising.

Within five minutes Whitehaven were again kicking out from under their own posts and three minutes later only desperate defence held out Reilly.

But all of a sudden the tide began to turn - and for that the Giants only have themselves to blame as mistake after mistake kept them penned into their own territory.

By the 55th minute Reilly was having to call on all his defensive know-how to kick the ball dead under intense pressure.

Then a minute later the home side struck at last when Leroy Joe's short pass sent David Seeds jinking over.

O'Neill added the conversion, and it was game on.

More Whitehaven pressure almost brought its reward when Joe was held up by staunch defence.

But with 12 minutes remaining the hosts deservedly drew level as Aaran Lester scorched over for a second converted score.

That set up a nail-biting finale.

First, Kirkbride saw a drop goal go wide, then McNamara followed up with an attempt which resulted in Whitehaven having to drop out for a seventh time.

And then Thorman had his two shots at goal, which so nearly hit the target and gave the Giants the win.

MATCH FACTS

Whitehaven Warriors Wilson; O'Neill, Seeds, Campbell (Devlin 72mins), Wallace; Joe, Kirkbride; Sherwen, Lester, Vaughan (Smith 53mins), Miller (Jackson 56mins), McKinney (Cunningham 74mins), Purdham.

Tries - Seeds (56mins), Lester (68mins).

Goals - O'Neill 2 from 2.

Huddersfield Giants - Reilly; O'Hare, Crabtree, Cooper, Langley; Thorman, March; Slicker (Rice 34mins, Slicker 69mins), Turner (Hallas 66mins), Molyneux (Wittenberg 25mins, Molyneux 56mins), Roberts (Whittaker 56mins), Atkins, McNamara.

Tries - O'Hare (16mins), March (37mins).

Goals - Thorman 2 from 4.

Half-time - 0-12.

Referee - Julian King (Warrington).

Attendance - 1,453.

Scrums won - Whitehaven 10, Huddersfield 6.

Penalties conceded - Whitehaven 5, Huddersfield 6.

Top Huddersfield tacklers - Atkins 35, McNamara 34, Turner 28, Molyneux 26, Cooper 23, Rice 22.

Next Giants game - Home to Barrow Border Raiders on Sunday.