WARRINGTON Wolves collected their League Leaders Shield after slaying Huddersfield Giants47-0 in a totally one-sided play-off contest at the Halliwell Jones Stadium.
While the Wolves were running hot for long periods of the game the Giants just didn’t turn up and hardly deserve a second chance in the end of season play-offs after a woeful performance.
It was hard to believe this was the same Huddersfield team that has twice inflicted defeats on the Wolves this season and ended their play-off hopes at the end of last season.
The game was over as a contest by half-time as Warrington built up a commanding 25-0 lead.
After a scrappy opening to the game which saw both sides penalised for holding on at the play the ball, it was young winger Chris Riley who showed the first skill of the night when he took a long pass from Chris Bridge to side step his way over in the corner. Bridge followed up with a towering touchline conversion to make it 6-0 after eight minutes.
Three minute later the slick Wolves’ machine was starting to motor along as a clever kick by Brett Hodgson bounced kindly for Bridge to touch down but he was wide with the conversion from the opposite side to his previous successful attempt.
The Giants were their own worst enemy as they were continually penalised and it wasn’t long before the Wolves were crossing the white wash again as Michael Monaghan and Lee Briers combined to send Joel Monaghan in at the corner, cutting inside to create a better angle for Bridge, who slotted over the extras to make it 16-0.
Two minutes later the Wolves were 20-0 up in as many minutes as Richie Myler broke clear to send the supporting Riley in at the corner for his second try. Bridge was wide with the difficult conversion attempt.
Surprisingly it was 10 minutes before the Wolves troubled the scoreboard again as good work by Briers and Simon Grix sent Matt King in at the corner. With Bridge off the pitch Briers missed the conversion attempt but made amends just before the half-time hooter as he banged over a drop goal to make it 25-0 at the break.
The Giants continued their spoiling tactices at the start of the second half and paid the penalty when Scott Grix was sent to the sin bin for holding down.
Joel Monaghan had an effort chalked off by the video referee on 45 minutes but from the resulting scrum made no mistake after being put over by Briers, who then put the icing on the cake with a superb touchline conversion to make it 31-0.
On 52 minutes full-back Brett Hodgson was all smiles as he crossed for a try against his former club, with Briers again the creator – but the half back was wide with his conversion attempt this time.
On 60 minutes Richie Myler showed some good soccer skills as he kicked the ball on and then outpaced the Giants defence to win the race to touchdown with Briers adding the extras to make it 41-0.
Huddersfield probably had their best period of the game for the next 14 minutes but could find no way through the determined Warrington defence.
With the clock ticking down Warrington finished the scoring with style on 74 minutes as good work by Louis Anderson and Hodgson saw Ryan Atkins race clear to score the final try of the night as Briers added the extras to make it 47-0.
Warrington now enjoy the benefit of a week off before deciding who to face in the elimination semi-final which will take place at the Halliwell Jones Stadium in a fortnight’s time.
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