Hull 40, Huddersfield Giants 12

Jul 5 2004 By The Huddersfield Daily Examiner

THREE away trips against fellow top six Super League sides in the past month and three defeats by conceding 40 points.

That's the harsh reality for coach Jon Sharp and his depleted squad after losing 40-12 to second-placed Hull at the KC Stadium.

The reverse comes on the back of a 40-18 defeat at Wigan and then another 40-12 scoreline at Bradford.

It's a sign of the gap that still exists between the sixth-placed Giants and those at the very top of the Super League pile.

But, conversely, it's also a sign that may be, just may be, the McAlpine club are slowly closing that gap on the top teams.

That may seem strange given the concession of 40 points for a third away trip on the trot.

But those visits to three of the five sides already nailed on for a place in the top six play-offs have come during the middle of the Giants' major injury crisis.

How different it could have been had Sharp been able to name a full-strength squad for all three trips!

At Hull yesterday, the head coach was again lacking the services of a number of key first-choice players.

Darren Turner is now, of course, ruled out for the season with a knee injury, but also missing were Julian Bailey (cheekbone), Brandon Costin (hamstring), Paul March (calf) and Mick Slicker (hernia).

All five would have been certain starters if fit.