McNamara seals win with match-clincher

Aug 25 2003 By Chris Roberts, The Huddersfield Daily Examiner

Huddersfield Giants 26 - 14 Wakefield Wildcats. Referee blasted as Giants claim points

It was all nonsense, and no wonder tempers flared in the final seconds after Steve McNamara had raced over for the match-clinching score.

However, part of Wakefield's frustration must also have come from the fact they had come so close to sharing the spoils.

On several occasions, the home side threatened to cut loose from their opponents but were thwarted by an eager and hungry Wildcats side.

And even though the Giants led from start to finish and had built up a healthy 18-4 lead by the 30th minute, Wakefield were in with a shout of levelling the scores in the final minutes.

When Gareth Ellis received the ball in his own 20 with just a minute remaining, his sole intention was attempting to send winger Richard Newlove clear for a length-of-the-field try.

But the England A centre's vital pass out to the wing went forward, and the Giants had the scrum with time very much on their side.

Yet rather than having to retain possession and run the clock down, McNamara peeled away from the base of the scrum, saw the defence open up in front of him and plunged over to seal Trinity's fate.

The Giants club captain made no mistake with the conversion and the latest two Super League points were in the bag.

In the end there was widespread relief around the McAlpine that the 10th win of the campaign had arrived, although there was little to suggest early on that it would be so close.

Apart from one sustained period of pressure which brought Ben Jeffries and unconverted try after 14 minutes the opening half hour was all Huddersfield.