Ex-Giant Thorman inspires Broncos

Jul 23 2003 By Neil Fissler, The Huddersfield Daily Examiner

Broncos 32 - 16 Giants. Smith's side suffer in last quarter

HUDDERSFIELD Giants were again left counting the cost of a slack second half display as they became the first side to lose in the capital this season.

Former Giant Chris Thorman inspired the Broncos to their first win on home soil in 10 months with a try and six goals as his side turned on the style with three scores in the final 20 minutes.

Until then, the Giants were in with a shout of pulling off another win against much-fancied opposition, largely thanks to the try-scoring efforts of Brandon Costin.

Costin took his total for the season to 18 with a brace (one in each half) to extend his record of scoring in seven successive games - and his second try after 51 minutes meant that he had scored his side's last six tries.

Thorman, who helped the Giants bounce back into Super League at the first attempt, was more than his equal, however, as his ex-teammates struggled to find a way of containing him.

Thorman may not have had his own way quite as often had Stanley Gene not been ruled out with a shoulder injury, but coach Tony Smith was given a pre-match boost when Paul Reilly and Jamie Bloem passed fitness tests.

The Giants started badly and gave away an early penalty for a swinging arm, which gave the Broncos the opportunity to kick the ball deep into their territory.

Thorman was able to combine with halfback partner Rob Purdham to send in Dennis Moran, who rounded his man at speed before touching down and Thorman added the goal.

Former Bronco Iain Morrison was lucky not to have been sent off for a sixth-minute trip on Moran, which was clearly seen by everyone in the ground except for referee Bob Connelly and his two touch judges.

Less than a minute later Moran knocked on just metres from the line from a scrum awarded after Giants winger Marcus St Hilaire spilled the ball trying to get back into the field of play from behind his own line.