Wolves survive Giant scare to reach Grand Final again

WARRINGTON Wolves, inspired by veteran talisman Lee Briers, made it back to back Grand Finals at Old Trafford as they overcame a strong challenge from league leaders Huddersfield Giants with a 30-22 victory at the Halliwell Jones Stadium.
Warrington had to survive a strong fightback from the Giants with the game finely balanced 22-20 just 10 minutes from time, with the superb kicking games of Stefan Ratchford and Briers being the main difference between the two teams.
The Wolves got off to a flying start as Joel Monaghan (pictured top) went over in the corner with a trademark try after a superb one handed pass by centre Chris Bridge following a quick tapped penalty after Briers was held down in the tackle by Brett Ferres. Stefan Ratchford landed a towering conversion from out wide to make it 6-0.
But the Giants hit back on seven minutes when Bridge fumbled a Luke Robinson grubber kick allowing Danny Brough to touch down under the sticks. Brough landed the simple conversion.
On 21 minutes Chris Riley dropped a towering bomb and from the resulting set Huddersfield took the lead as 18-year-old rookie Jake Connor scored wide out despite the attention of three tacklers. Brough couldn’t add the extra but the visitors looked good value for their 6-10 lead.
Wolves’ boss Tony Smith immediately rang the changes bringing on Adrian Morley, Garreth Carvell and Michael Monaghan.
With the momentum swinging back to the Wolves they took the lead on 32 minutes as Monaghan went in at the same corner in almost identical style as the Giants gave away another needless penalty allowing Richie Myler and bridge to combine to get the winger over in the corner again.
Ratchford again stepped up to the mark with another superb touchline conversion to make it 12-10.
Then on the stroke of half time Briers was held up on the line on the 5th tackle and from the resulting play the ball Myler’s kick deflected off Cudjoe, allowing Simon Grix to gratefully touchdown leaving Ratchford with a simple conversion to make it 18-10 at the break.
Warrington had the perfect start to the second half as man-of-the-match Briers floated a pin-pointt kick for Ryan Atkins to leap up and collect to touch down, with Ratchford making no mistake with the extras to make it 24-10.
But the resilient Giants hit back on 51 minutes after the Wolves had failed to take advantage of forcing three goal line drop outs, with Brough finding touch with his third kick. From the following set Robinson sent out a looping pass for Jermaine McGillvary to score in the corner and Brough landed a great touchline conversion to make it 24-16.
Ten minutes from time it was game on when Dale Ferguson crashed over, with Brough again on target to make it 24-22 to set up a grand stand finish.
Warrington will now face the winners of the Wigan v Leeds semi-final at Old Trafford next Saturday, October 5, kick off 6pm.