Thorman goals prove decisive

Mar 11 2002 By Chris Roberts, The Huddersfield Daily Examiner

Unfortunately, for Turner and the Giants, referee Steve Nicholson ruled a knock-on, although the hooker remained adamant that a defender had kicked at the ball only after he had grounded it correctly.

However, with Turner denied, the Giants had to settle for a 6-0 interval lead courtesy of Thorman's trusty right boot and his three penalties.

The first followed an infringement at the play-the-ball in the 17th minute and the second was for a high shot on Whittaker after one of Hallas's breaks 15 minutes later.

But the third five minutes before the break came after Reilly and Hull KR full-back Bob Everitt had been involved in a fracas which earned them a spell in the sin-bin and the incident being placed on report.

Although the second half began in bright sunshine, the high winds remained and the chances were kept to a minimum.

Stott's early break offered the home side some hope.

But it took them until the 68th minute to open their account when Dorahy landed a penalty after the referee adjudged that a McNamara drop-out which had been caught in the wind failed to travel the required 10 metres!

Even though the Robins desperately attempted to snatch the lead in the final nail-biting minutes they never came within a sniff of the Giants' line.

In the end, the Huddersfield defence held firm and arguably their toughest hurdle of the season so far had been successfully overcome.

MATCH FACTS

Hull KR Everitt; Godfrey, Stott, Taewa, McLarron; Walker, Dorahy; Hayes (Wilson 69mins), Dixon, Wilson (Wilkin 22mins), Smith, Wilkins (Rainey 28mins, Wilkins 54mins), Charles. Subs not used: Farrell, Andrews.

Goals - Charles 0 from 1, Dorahy 1 from 1.

Sin-binned and on report - Everitt (fighting, 35mins)

Huddersfield Giants - Reilly; O'Hare, Crabtree, Hallas, Whittaker; McNamara, Thorman (Moxon 54mins); Wittenberg (Roberts 50mins), Turner (March 52mins), Walker (Cruckshank 25mins, Walker 55mins), Atkins (Cruckshank 72mins), Roberts (Rice 31mins, Turner 74mins), Gene.

Goals - Thorman 3 from 3.

Sin-binned and on report - Reilly (fighting, 35mins).

Half-time - 0-6.

Referee - Steve Nicholson (Whitehaven).

Attendance - 2,749.

Scrums won - Hull KR 9, Huddersfield 12.

Penalties conceded - Hull KR 5, Huddersfield 5

Top Huddersfield tacklers - Atkins 45, Wittenberg 32, McNamara 32, Walker 31, March 27.

Next Giants game - At home to Rochdale Hornets next Sunday (3.00).