Giants go so close!

Mar 8 2003 By Chris Roberts, The Huddersfield Daily Examiner

Wigan Warriors 33 - 22 Huddersfield Giants. HEROIC Huddersfield Giants can count themselves desperately unlucky not to have claimed the scalp of mighty Wigan Warriors.

There really does seem little justice in the world that coach Tony Smith's 17 brave battlers found themselves on the wrong end of a 33-22 scoreline.

For large parts of the contest the visitors were the dominant force, and in a pulsating final quarter the Giants had Wigan on the rack.

From being 23-4 down in the 56th minute, Huddersfield fought back to 29-22 with nine minutes remaining and a massive Super League shock was becoming a distinct possibility.

Unfortunately, Martin Aspinwall saved the day for the Warriors with a last-minute try to settle the outcome.

But the huge sigh of relief that could be felt around the ground as the try was scored summed up the mood inside the JJB Stadium.

Wigan had done just enough to hold on and save face - and didn't everyone know it!

Rather than being the cakewalk many had predicted - the Giants were given a 30-point start on the rugby league coupon - this prove a contest between two evenly-matched teams.

In fact, when it came to the battle in the forwards, Huddersfield could claim with some justification to have had the edge.

All those who had stints in the pack enhanced their reputations.