Pictures Eddie Whitham
DESPITE a valiant second-half fight back the return of fans to the Halliwell Jones Stadium couldn’t inspire Warrington to victory, as they lost 26-20 to Huddersfield Giants.
After more than a year locked out of the stadium, it was hardly the welcome back the Wolves faithful would have wanted as they watched their side trail 20-0 at half-time to Ian Watson’s Giants.
Two Lee Gaskell tries and one for England winger Jermaine McGillvary left the majority of the 4,000 fans disappointed by the break, especially as their side had gone into this match six games unbeaten.
They launched a comeback in the second half though, with former Australia international Greg Inglis scoring a try in his first outing in front of fans.
Sadly his first home game in front of the fans didn’t last much longer as he limped off with a thigh strain.
A Daryl Clark dummy and try brought the score to 20-12 barely 10 minutes into the second half, and Gareth Widdop added a penalty to his two conversions to bring the hosts back within a score.
And by the hour mark, only a missed touchline conversion from Widdop separated the sides after youngster Josh Thewlis had crossed for a try.
But their momentum was broken on 67 minutes when Kenny Edwards crossed for a try to stop the Giants’ rot and restore their six-point advantage, and that become a decisive eight point one three minutes from time when Aidan Sezer tagged on a penalty.
Widdop kicked a penalty of his own with 90 seconds to play, but the Wolves ran out of time to suffer their second league defeat of the season.
Warrington: Ratchford, Thewlis, Inglis, Mamo, Charnley, Austin, Widdop, Hill, Clark, Cooper, Currie, King, Clark. Subs: Philbin, Mulhern, Davis, Akauola.
Huddersfield: Gaskell, McGillvary, Wardle, Leutele, McIntosh, Sezer, Cogger, Lawrence, Cunningham, Greenwood, Edwards, Jones, Yates. Subs: O’Brien, Trout, English, McQueen.
Fans back in the Halliwell Jones – Picture Eddie Whitham
Greg Inglis – Picture Eddie Whitham
Blake Austin – Picture Eddie Whitham
Daryl Clark – Picture Eddie Whitham
Not the result we wanted but it was so good to see our fans return to the HJ tonight 🟡🔵 pic.twitter.com/NuVjZNMsBt
— Warrington Wolves (@WarringtonRLFC) May 17, 2021
