Super show as Hornets stung

Mar 18 2002 By Chris Roberts, The Huddersfield Daily Examiner

Giants 58 - 4 Rochdale. WHO would ever have imagined the Giants would have destroyed third-placed Rochdale in such spectacular fashion?

The highly-rated Hornets arrived at the McAlpine Stadium having lost just one of their opening 10 matches and having earned a draw at title rivals Leigh.

But they were simply swept away by the NFP leaders who produced their most complete performance of the season in a dazzling 10-try display.

Within 15 minutes the home side were 18-0 ahead and an 11th win of the season was already in the bag.

Before the shell-shocked visitors had time to catch their breath, Darren Turner, Ben Cooper, Rob Roberts and Stanley Gene were all celebrating stunning scores.

This was the Giants at their lethal best, and the crowd were loving it.

On paper, this was arguably the best side Huddersfield have faced this season.

Yet they rose majestically to the challenge to send a chilling message to the rest of the teams in the competition, and especially to main rivals Leigh who entertain the Giants in Sunday's eagerly-awaited encounter between the top two.

Delighted coach Tony Smith will demand even more from his players for the trip to Hilton Park.

And with confidence bound to be sky-high after yesterday's destruction of the Hornets, he might just get his wish.