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.

That was the time it took for the inspirational Stanley Gene to record the Giants' fastest try in Super League.

On Leeds' first set of six, Chev Walker spilled a pass and the alert Gene immediately picked up the ball and outpaced the cover to score in the corner. What a start!

Costin failed to add the extras, but the Giants were already buzzing.

A successful Costin penalty in the 17th minute nudged the home side further ahead before Leeds struck for the first time in the 22nd minute.

McDonald's drive to the line sucked in the defence and his offload in the tackle enabled Sinfield to race over for a try he also converted.

But the rest of the half belonged to the Giants, and in the 27th minute they grabbed their second try.

Ben Roarty started the ball rolling, keeping the play alive to help put rock-solid Jamie Bloem in the position to score.

The South African international looked an odds-on scorer as he raced over the line, but Mark Calderwood knocked the ball out of his hand at the crucial moment.

But the ever-alert Gene was on hand to pounce on the ball and be awarded the try on the intervention of video referee Geoff Berry.

Substitute McNamara added the conversion and then went on to land two further penalties to make it 16-6 at the break.