Thorman the inspiration!

May 20 2002 By Chris Roberts, The Huddersfield Daily Examiner

Dragons 30 - 45 Giants. AN almost unbelievable start blasted the fired-up Giants into the final of the Buddies National League Cup in the most spectacular of fashions.

Then almost immediately from the re-start McNamara powered through the Doncaster cover inside his own half and fed the supporting Thorman to score his third try in a remarkable five minutes.

A McNamara penalty in the 10th minute further extended the advantage, and even at that stage it was hard to see beyond a Huddersfield triumph.

Yet that lead could also have contributed to the way in which Doncaster were allowed to mount a mini revival.

With the Giants having laid such a solid foundation for success, their intensity appeared to dip - and against a side like the Dragons that's fatal.

By the 18th minute Doncaster dangerman Paul Mansson had released Jason Lee and Marvin Golden for tries converted by Johnny Woodcock to reduce the deficit to eight points, and a genuine contest looked to be back on.

But that only kick-started the Giants back into a higher gear.

By the 20th minute centre Eorl Crabtree showed incredible strength and determination to push past numerous defenders and stretch out a long arm to score. McNamara again goaled.

And eight minutes later Stanley Gene brushed past some wafer-thin tackling to grab the Giants' fifth converted score.

A further lapse in the visitors' defence enabled Woodock to charge through for a try he also converted, but at 32-18 at the break there was still no cause for alarm in the Giants' ranks.

And any slight nerves that may have lingered had completely disappeared within nine minutes of the restart.