Reilly injury sours victory

Sep 2 2002 By Chris Roberts, The Huddersfield Daily Examiner

Giants 42 - 4 Dewsbury Rams. EVERYTHING had been going according to plan in the Giants' bid to celebrate the collection of the League championship trophy in truly triumphant style.

After 21 glorious minutes, the newly-crowned champions were 26-0 ahead and producing some champagne rugby.

It was just the sort of performance Huddersfield were desperate to put together before the official presentation took place at the final hooter.

Yet what was supposed to be the dream finale to the Giants' last home League game of the season was to have no fairytale ending.

Instead, another emphatic victory for head coach Tony Smith's side was tarnished by a serious injury to Paul Reilly's right ankle in the 27th minute.

Seldom will an injury to a player have had such a negative effect as it did on the Giants.

The sight of Reilly being stretchered off with an injury which seems certain to signal a premature end to his season quite clearly knocked his teammates - and the Giants fans - for six.

One minute Huddersfield were on the very top of their game, and the next they looked as flat as the proverbial pancake.

"We're such a close-knit club that an injury like this is bound to affect everyone," conceded Smith after the contest.

But he must also have been a little concerned that it did hit his players quite so hard.