Battling Giants give grounds for optimism

Feb 24 2003 By Chris Roberts, The Huddersfield Daily Examiner

Had Huddersfield conjured up a win over the Wolves, then the whole of Super League would have immediately been forced to sit up and take note.

But there was little in the Giants' opening 40-minute stint to suggest they could pose a genuine top-flight threat.

Warrington bossed every element of the play and were full value for their 16-0 interval lead.

Besides their two tries, the video referee denied Warrington on two occasions, with Appo the unfortunate attacker on both occasions.

The first time, it took a remarkable piece of defending from the impressive Cooper to deny the full-back and then Appo was penalised for a double movement when attempting to stretch out to score.

On two other occasions, however, the visitors were not to be denied.

The opener came in the seventh minute when the ball popped out several times to enable Brent Grose to dummy his way over.

Briers made no mistake with the touchline conversion, and the Wolves had made the dream opening.

For the Giants, on the other hand, the opening 40 minutes were a nightmare, with Warrington's second try summing up the frustration.

A long pass by Gene inside his own 25 was plucked out of the air by Grose who gratefully accepted the four points.