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

That let-off was just what the Wildcats needed and five minutes before the break Dallas Hood charged over from close range to make it 18-10 at the break.

Thanks to Giants' public enemy No1, referee Connolly, that lead was reduced to four points by the 59th minute as Handforth banged over two penalties.

But Bloem settled the home side's nerves with a 67th minute penalty, paving the way for McNamara to land the killer blow 12 minutes later.

MATCH FACTS

Giants: Reilly, O'Hare, Bloem, Bailey, St Hilaire, Gene, March, Fleary, O'Doherty, Gannon, Roarty, Morrison, Turner; Crabtree, McNamara, Slicker

Wakefield: Holland, Wray, Ellis, Halpenny, Newlove, Handforth, Jeffries, Griffin, March, Korkidas, Wrench, Field, Vowles; Hood, Snitch, Slattery, Spicer

KEY MAN: Ben Roarty

IN a game that was scrappy in the extreme, it needed someone to take the game by the scruff of the neck. That someone was Giants' back-rower Ben Roarty who was a rock, both in attack and defence, from start to finish.

KEY MOMENT:

A last-gasp Gareth Ellis pass to attempt to send Wakefield teammate Richard Newlove away for a length-of-the-field 79th-minute leveller was ruled forward, and from the resulting scrum Steve McNamara peeled away to score.

KEY STATS:

Huddersfield. Tries: Turner (5mins & 21mins), O'Doherty (30mins), McNamara (79mins). Goals: McNamara 2 from 2, Bloem 2 from 3.

Wakefield. Tries: Jeffries (14mins), Hood (35mins). Goals: Handforth 3 from 4, Jeffries 0 from 1.

Half-time: 18-10.

Referee: Robert Connolly (Wigan).

Attendance: 3,621.

Scrums won: Huddersfield 9, Wakefield 10.

Penalties conceded: Huddersfield 16, Wakefield 12.

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