Heroic show can spur play-off bid

Jul 14 2003 By Chris Roberts, The Huddersfield Daily Examiner

Giants 30 - 24 Rhinos. LIFE just keeps on getting better and better for coach Tony Smith and his Huddersfield heroes.

In Super League days gone by, that would have meant curtains for the Giants.

But not the class of 2003.

Rather than looking to hold on to one League point, Huddersfield mounted one final lung-bursting rally.

With the game entering its last two minutes, the Giants took the play to Leeds' line and the ball was fed back to Brandon Costin for a drop goal attempt.

Unfortunately, that was charged down - but, fortunately, straight into the grateful arms of Jarrod O'Doherty.

The second-rower was held five metres short, and quick as a flash Costin moved into the dummy half position.

He scooped up the ball, spotted a gap, dummied his way to the line and then had the strength to hold off a posse of defenders to plant the ball down.

Steve McNamara added the extras and the Giants were 30-24 ahead with a minute remaining.

Leeds' attempts to regain the ball from a short restart failed, the hooter sounded and Huddersfield were savouring a seventh victory of the campaign, their best season's return in five years in Super League!

But the scene for a day of major landmarks was set far earlier - after 37 seconds, in fact.