Giants maintain play-off push

Giants maintain play-off push

Scrum-half Chris Thorman scored four tries and kicked 10 goals in a 68-16 win against already-relegated Leigh to set Huddersfield up for a thrilling finale to the engage Super League play-off race.

Thorman, who is battling for a place in the Great Britain Tri-Nations squad, also created one of the Giants? other touchdowns in a totally one-sided contest.

Former Paramatta ace Thorman broke clear of the Leigh defence from Marcus St Hilaire?s pass on five minutes and doubled up soon after with another run from deep, this time created by Michael De Vere?s offload.

And Thorman again outpaced Leigh?s pitiful defence to complete his hat-trick unopposed on 56 minutes as the Giants posted their highest ever score in Super League.

Thorman?s fourth try came on 69 minutes and was a just reward for a truly outstanding individual display.

The win was Huddersfield?s third straight success and leaves the club?s play-off destiny in their own hands with vital games against rivals London and Wigan to come as the campaign reaches a pulsating climax.

Shell-shocked Leigh, who have been thrashed by Hull and Leeds recently, have now conceded 218 points in their last three matches and it was easy to see why.

Huddersfield scored virtually at will with the Giants players simply shrugging off attempted tackles to run in most of their tries unchallenged.

Paul March and Chris Nero weighed in with two tries each in the first half as the home side averaged a point a minute in the opening period.

Nero completed his hat-trick three minutes from time but even his impressive display was overshadowed by Thorman - whose tally of 36 points is the highest scored by a Huddersfield player in Super League.

Leigh?s misery was completed by a Hefin O?Hare touchdown in the first half plus tries from Lee Greenwood and substitute Paul White after the break.

The Centurions got onto the scoresheet either side of the interval with tries from Craig Stapleton, Warren Stevens and Rob Jackson.

Winger Nick Owen added two conversions but they were scant consolation for the heavily beaten visitors.

Huddersfield: St Hilaire, O'Hare, Nero, De Vere, Greenwood, Thorman, March, McDonald, Drew, Jackson, Crabtree, Smith, Gene. Replacements: S. Jones, Morrison, Grayshon, White.

Leigh: Wilshere, Maden, Cooper, Jackson, Owen, J. Duffy, C. Forber, Fleary, Rowley, Sturm, Stapleton, Leafa, Kent. Replacements: Marshall, Stevens, Mears, Coleman.

Huddersfield: 68 (40) Tries: Thorman 4, O'Hare, March 2, Nero 3, Greenwood, White. Goals: Thorman 10.

Leigh: 16 (4) Tries: Stapleton, Stevens, Jackson. Goals: Owen 2.

Attendance: 3,502

Referee: Ian Smith (Oldham)

Thanks to www.superleague.co.uk for the above review