Woeful display in shock defeat

Feb 11 2002 By Chris Roberts, The Huddersfield Daily Examiner

Apart from a spell midway through the first half, the Dragons were without doubt the far superior side.

Injuries to props Mick Slicker and Chris Molyneux in the openand quarter didn't help the cause and the recurrence of Matthew Walker's knee injury just before the break was also and added blow.

But given the more determined attitude the Dragons showed from the first whistle it's unlikely their departures made that much difference.

Simon Irving was unlucky not to give Doncaster the lead after three minutes when he saw a penalty attempt drift just wide.

But nine minutes later he was making amends in the most spectacular fashion as he landed a touchline conversion to the opening try.

That came courtesy of full-back Johnny Woodcock who had the simple task of touching down after the Giants' defence failed to de-fuse a Paul Mansson `bomb' on the last tackle.

Even better was to come for the home side in the 18th minute when Mansson's break from deep caught Huddersfield on the back foot and set up the position for Irving to finally touch down in the corner.

The centre appeared to have touched the flag before he grounded the ball, but referee Ian Smith was having none of it.

To rub salt in the Giants' wounds Irving again added the touchline conversion and Doncaster were 12-0 ahead.

Huddersfield's response, however, could not have been more emphatic.

Straight from the restart, the Dragons knocked-on - one of the few times in the game it wasn't the other way around! - and from the scrum the ball was worked out to Ben Cooper who rounded the cover to score in the corner.

Chris Thorman failed to land the touchline conversion, but at 12-4 the visitors had been handed a lifeline.

And there was better to come in the 34th minute when Stanley Gene crashed over for a try converted by Rob Roberts.

A superb Thorman 40-20 kick was wasted by his side's final attack of the half.

But having fought back to 12-10 at the break, the Giants were looking in good shape to go on and win the contest.

How wrong that could be!

The second half was a complete shambles.

Apart from the final minute when Gene was held up over the line, Huddersfield never looked like scoring.

Doncaster, on the other hand, were in their element and added further tries through Moana - but did he ground the ball correctly? - Jason Lee and Mansson, while Irving took his goal tally to five.

Surely, the Giants won't play as badly again this season!