Eagles push poor Giants

Sep 9 2002 By Chris Roberts, The Huddersfield Daily Examiner

Sheffield 18 - 38 Giants. IT may not have been pretty and it may not have been convincing.

Yet this stuttering victory over battling Sheffield Eagles could have provided the Giants with a timely psychological lift in their bid to guarantee play-off success and a route back into Super League.

Only once before this season have Huddersfield fallen eight points behind in a game - at Doncaster Dragons in the Challenge Cup.

On that occasion, the Giants looked incapable of finding an escape route and suffered their only defeat of the year.

But this time around, the NFP minor champions were able to battle back from the brink and record a victory that in the end looked comfortable, although in reality it was not.

And that mental toughness to come good in times of adversity could make all the difference in the remaining games ahead.

The next massive test is obviously at home to Leigh in the play-off semi-final a week on Sunday, and given the two clubs respective final League games, the Giants have clearly gained an upper hand.

While Huddersfield were clawing their way back against spirited mid-table opponents, Leigh were unable to find that steely determination and suffered a 29-18 defeat at a side of a similar mid-table standing in Dewsbury.

Like the Giants, Leigh may also have had players performing well below the expected standard and were made to battle hard to hold back inspired hosts.

But unlike Huddersfield they couldn't find their way out.