Giants simply too powerful

Jun 24 2002 By Doug Thomson, The Huddersfield Daily Examiner

Workington 12 - 54 Giants. THIS Derwent Park clash had a rival attraction just across the road in the shape of a Dr Who convention, complete with real-life Dalek.

Even if 13 of them had donned playing strip and boots and entered a side in the Northern Ford Premiership, it's hard to believe they would have avoided extermination at the hands of runaway leaders Huddersfield.

In-form Workington, having notched 142 points in their previous three games, were supposed to provide the Giants with one of their toughest tests of the campaign.

But coach Tony Smith, back at the club where he ended his playing career, was free to enjoy the Sunday afternoon sunshine and shrug off the cat-calls of a section of the home faithful as his well-drilled side strolled to a highly-convincing victory.

Huddersfield looked far fitter. far stronger, far sharper and far superior in in every area, from the basics to the fancy stuff.

And that was without five first-choice players in Paul March (knee), Chris Thorman (club ban) and late withdrawals Paul Reilly (dead leg), Chris Langley (calf) and Dave Atkins (back).

There were suggestions Smith's side might struggle to regain their NFP momentum after winning the Buddies Cup.

But they have now totalled 192 points in the four games since Hull KR were defeated in the final, and look more powerful than ever.

In the same matches, just 24 points have been conceded, and while highly-rated home hooker Carl Sice managed to cross twice yesterday, both efforts came from close-range set-pieces and had more to do with fleeting lapses in concentration by the visitors than heavy home pressure.

The Workington whitewash, meanwhile, was crossed 10 times with winger Matthew Whittaker completing a 12-minute hat trick late on after Stanley Gene (2), Mark Moxon (2), Hefin O'Hare, Matthew Walker and Mick Slicker had touched down.

Elusive stand-off Gene began the procession with just 57 seconds on the clock, taking advantage of a clever pushed- back pass by prop Jeff Wittenberg after loose-forward Steve McNamara's kick on the sixth tackle had caused all kinds of problems in the Cumbrians' defence.