It's so easy in 13-try success

Feb 4 2002 By Chris Roberts, The Huddersfield Daily Examiner

At 18-2 after just 25 minutes it was already obvious the game was over as a contest.

Hunslet did rally briefly, with Naylor crashing over for his side's only try.

But from then on the scoring was all one way.

In the 32nd minute it was 24-6 as Atkins burst through a paper thin defence before feeding Crabtree and four minutes later Rob Roberts and Thorman produced sharp passes in the tighest of space for Roberts to crash over.

A corner flag denied O'Hare his second minutes later, but on the stroke of half-time Hayes and Gene sent Thorman charging over to make it 34-6 at the break.

Just like in the first half, it took the Giants seven minutes to get into their stride, but when they did there was no stopping them.

O'Hare and Matthew Whittaker were both halted with the line beckoning before Darren Turner crashed over from close range.

Two minutes later Hayes embarked on a superb break and unleashed an even better pass to send supporting prop Molyneux bursting over.

O'Hare was again denied in the 52nd minute when he was cruelly adjudged to have been offside when he collected a brilliant Thorman high crossfield kick to score.

But two minutes later the lead was extended when Atkins' lovely inside pass sent Turner racing over.

Jeff Wittenberg was denied a first try of the campaign by another forward pass call.

Yet there were no such problems for O'Hare as he gathered a Hallas pass to dive over in the corner.

The flying Welsh winger then produced a piece of electrifying magic to take a quick tap on the 25 and then show the defence a clean pair of heels on a stunning charge to the line.

Cooper and Paul Reilly had both taken wrong options after great breaks from deep.

But there was still time for Hayes to pick up a loose ball and grab the final try with three minutes remaining.

Walker and Thorman both spent six minutes each on the sidelines as the Giants saw out the contest in 12 men.

But even with a man down, it was still a non-contest.

MATCH FACTS

Huddersfield Giants Cooper; O'Hare, Crabtree, Hallas, Whittaker; Gene (Reilly 47mins), Thorman; Slicker (Wittenberg 28mins), March (Turner 40mins), Molyneux (Slicker 55mins), Walker, Roberts (Hayes 38mins), Atkins (March 67mins).

Tries - O'Hare (7mins, 59mins & 72mins), Cooper (17mins & 25mins), Crabtree (22mins & 32mins), Roberts (36mins), Thorman (39mins), Turner (47mins & 54mins), Molyneux 49mins), Hayes (77mins).

Goals - Thorman 8 from 12, hallas 0 from 1.

Hunslet Hawks - Allen (Jessey 62mins); Powell, Bargate, Seal, Brain; Coleman, Dobson; Coyle (Lee 22mins), Howcroft, Briggs, Jessey (Atha 32mins), Sanchez (Stevens 47mins), Naylor.

Try - Naylor (28mins).

Goal - Allen 1 from 2.

Half-time - 34-6.

Referee - Steve Nicholson (Whitehaven).

Attendance - 1,969.

Scrums won - Huddersfield 8, Hunslet 14.

Penalties conceded - Huddersfield 7, Hunslet 6.

Top Huddersfield tacklers - March 22, Hayes 21, Molyneux 19, Walker 17, Hallas 15, Turner 15.

Next game - Away to Doncaster on Sunday (Challenge Cup.