Widnes Vikings 6, Huddersfield Giants 38

Mar 6 2004 By Chris Roberts, The Huddersfield Daily Examiner

FOR the first time in over half a century, Huddersfield are proudly sitting at the very top of the rugby league tree.

Not since the mid-1950s and the era of the likes of Lionel Cooper, Russell Pepperell and Johnny Hunter has a side from the town led the nation's premier competition.

Even when Fartown lifted the League Championship trophy in 1962, they finished fourth in the table and emerged victorious via the end-of-season play-offs.

Obviously, thoughts of repeating that feat in Super League IX could be some way off, and by early tonight the Giants could be knocked off the top spot.

But such was the manner in which they destroyed a Widnes side that, on paper at least, was arguably stronger than their visitors, surely no-one could deny the Giants their moment of early-season glory.

When it came to the heat of battle the Vikings simply had no answer to the guile of scrum half Paul March, the dynamism of stand-off Stanley Gene, the bite of the Giants pack and the pace of the Giants backs.

In every key area of the game Huddersfield were different class.

In attack they were far sharper, while in defence they were rock solid.

Even referee Steve Ganson couldn't knock the Giants out of their stride and give the Vikings a helping hand.

Despite awarding Widnes eight first-half penalties to two and sin-binning Darren Fleary, for obstruction, and Paul Reilly (interference) - he also binned Widnes hooker Shane Millard for a punch on Stuart Jones - the visitors were always on top.