WARRINGTON Wolves regained second spot in the Super League table with a sizzling 36-20 victory over Huddersfield Giants at the Halliwell Jones today.
In sweltering conditionsWarrington overcame the 56 second sin binning of winger Chris Riley and conceding an early try to the visitors, to gain two valuable points in the race for the title and keep a clean bill of health for next week’s Challenge Cup quarter-final clash at Bradford Bulls.
While Matt King picked up an ankle knock and Michael Monaghan a shoulder injury, Head of Coaching Tony Smith says they are only minor knocks, with both players expected to be fit for next week.
Smith was “delighted” with the performance in “difficult conditions” and was proud of how his players responded to pressure from the Giants in the second half when the Wolves went through a tricky 20 minute spell.
“It just goes to show that when you are playing well it doesn’t really matter if things go against you, you can still win – and that is what the players achieved today.”
Warrington got off to the worst possible start as Riley was sent to the sin bin by referee Ian Smith after just 56 seconds for holding down in the tackle. From the resulting penalty Luke Robinson burrowed his way over, although Warrington bound Brett Hodgson was wide with the relatively simple conversion attempt as he received plenty of chants of “Hodgson is a Wire” from the sidelines.
But Warrington responded well as skipper Adrian Morley powered over after 4 minutes, taking a short pass from Lee Briers, with Chris Bridge adding the extras to give Warrington a lead they would never lose.
The Wolves were relieved to see Brett Hodgson drop the ball with the line at his mercy on 17 minutes and moments later a rare Wolves penalty saw Briers open up the Giants defence, sending Bridge on a diagonal run to the corner. Bridge then landed a super conversion to make it 12-4.
Three minutes later the Wolves were over again as another pin point pass from Briers to Richie Mathers sent Riley in at the Corner. Bridge was wide this time but the Wolves were in control at 16-4.
A fumble on the Giants try line allowed Cudjoe to pick up the ball and run the length of the field to bring the visitors back into the game, as Hodgson’s conversion made it 16-10.
But then a super training field move involving Briers, Bridge and King saw Hicks in at the corner on 34 minutes. Bridge couldn’t add the extras making it 20-10 at the break.
Man of the match Bridge (pictured) opened up the Giant’s defence early in the second half as he raced 50 metres to send the supporting Hicks in for his second try, with Bridge adding the extras to make it 26-10.
The Giants were reduced to 12 men on 54 minutes when Gilmore was sin binned for a grapple tackle and two minutes later the Wolves made the extra man tell as a Briers kick was collected by Hicks who off-loaded well to the supporting King who powered in at the corner to make it 30-10, with Bridge failing with the conversion.
Warrington were well in control and could have gone further ahead if Riley hadn’t been ankle tapped during a run along the line.
Then on 62 minutes Cudjoe broke through some woeful tackles to send Jamahl Lolesi in and make a game of it, as Hodgson’s conversion made it 30-16.
Sensing an unlikely fight back the Giants stepped up a gear and on 68 minutes Robinson sent Cudjoe over for his second try, although Hodgson was wide with the conversion making it 30-20.
But the Giants couldn’t find another way through but it was the final minute before the Warrington fans could relax, as Paul Wood reached out to score from close range for his first try of the season and ensure the points were in the bag. Bridge added the extras to make it 36-20.
For more pictures from the game CLICK HERE
Wolves: Richie Mathers; Chris Hicks, Matt King, Ryan Atkins, Chris Riley; Lee Briers, Chris Bridge; Adrian Morley, Michael Monaghan, Ben Harrison, Louis Anderson, Ben Westwood, Simon Grix. Subs: Paul Wood, David Solomona, Lee Mitchell, Vinnie Anderson.
Giants: Brett Hodgson, Leroy Cudjoe, Jamahl Lolesi, Michael Lawrence, David Hodgson; Kevin Brown, Scott Grix; Eorl Crabtree, Luke Robinson, Keith Mason, Lee Gilmour, Stephen Wild, David Faiumu. Subs: Andy Raleigh, Darrell Griffin, Martin Aspinwall, Shaun Lunt.
Atten 11,070
Ref: Ian Smith
