Untouchable show of class

Jul 8 2002 By Chris Roberts, The Huddersfield Daily Examiner

McNamara rubbed salt into the wounds by landing the extras from the touchline and at 40-10 at the break, another big score was guaranteed.

The interval did little to change the visitors' fortunes as within a minute of the restart Crabtree sent Darren Turner strolling over.

Seven minutes later Chris Molyneux burst from deep and released the supporting Atkins to race away under the posts and on the next attack Gene collected McNamara's kick to complete his hat trick.

By the end of the proceedings Crabtree had also completed a hat trick, while Molyneux and Andy Rice were others to profit from good approach play.

The only real note of disappointment was again the size of the McAlpine crowd.

Just 2,361 witnessed what was one of Huddersfield's most emphatic performances in years.

Those lucky enough to be there must surely be pitying those who elected to give this one a miss.

MATCH FACTS

Huddersfield Giants Reilly; O'Hare, Cooper, Crabtree, Whittaker; Gene (Moxon 67mins), Moxon (Thorman 40mins); Slicker (Cruckshank 30mins), Turner (Rice 52mins), Wittenberg (Molyneux 30mins, Wittenberg 60mins), Atkins, Roberts (Slicker 60mins), McNamara.

Tries - Gene (2mins, 16mins, 51mins & 64mins), Crabtree (10mins, 69mins & 76mins), O'Hare (21mins), Whittaker (29mins, 32mins & 39mins), Turner (41mins), Atkins (48mins), Molyneux (55mins), Rice (74mins).

Goals - McNamara 13 from 15.

Whitehaven - O'Neill; Campbell, Jackson (R), Hill, Wallace; Lupton, Kirkbride (Smith 33mins); Cox (Purdham 58mins), Jackson (M), Fatiolofa (McKinney 8mins), Miller, Purdham (Cunningham 48mins), Lester (Kiddie 61mins).

Tries - Jackson (R) (5mins), Lester (13mins).

Goals - Kirkbride 0 from 1, O'Neill 1 from 1.

Half-time - 40-10.

Referee - Julian King (St Helens).

Attendance - 2,361.

Scrums won - Huddersfield 5, Whitehaven 7.

Penalties conceded - Huddersfield 3, Whitehaven 8.

Top Huddersfield tacklers - Atkins 19, McNamara 17, Cooper 17, Roberts 14.

Next Giants game - Home to Swinton on July 21.