WARRINGTON Wolves made it three Wembley finals in four years with a
resouding 33-6 victory over Huddersfield Giants in the Carnegie
Challenge Cup semi-final at Salford.
In a tight opening quarter it was the Giants who struck first on eight minutes following a Danny Brough 40-20 which created good field possession for Atkins to off load to allow Scott Moore to touch down. Brough added the extras.
But Warrington gradually took control off the game with the strong running Garreth Carvell scrambling over the line on 15 minutes for a try awarded by the video referee after suspicions of a double movement. Brett Hodgson added the extras to level the scores at 6-6.
Defences were on top until Huddersfield full-back Scott Grix fumbled a Lee Briers bomb. From the scrum Stefan Ratchford sent Ryan Atkins over the line on 23 minutes despite the attention of two would be tacklers. Hodgson was again on target with a superb touchline conversion to make it 12-6 to the Wolves.
Five minutes later Grix fumbled another Briers bomb allowing Joel Monaghan to scoop up the loose ball for a walk over try. Hodgson was again on target to make it 18-6 at the break.
Huddersfield pushed hard to get back into the game but couldn’t find a way through Warrington’s watertight defence.
On 53 minutes Michael Monaghan had a try ruled out by the video ref after obstruction by Adrian Morley on Mason. But three minutes later a high shot on Morley gave the Wolves good field position with Hodgson bursting through a tiring defence to score and then add the conversion.
On 66 minutes Hodgson ensured the Giants heads would drop as he slotted over a drop goal, followed by a penalty with Ratchford having the final say, touching down four minutes from time. Hodgson’s conversion completed the scoring.
A delighted Wolves boss Tony Smith confessed to being “excited” by another return to Wembley, with the Wolves facing his former club Leeds for a repeat of the 2010 final.
“Huddersfield made us work hard today but we were not going to be stopped. Our discipline was very good and the pack of forwards was tremendous.
“We will be looking forward to the final which should be a very good game between two good teams.”
Garreth Carvell’s opening try
The players celebrate a third Wembley in four years
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Warrington Wolves will be hoping for a hat trick of Wembley wins in four years
