Warrington Wolves now guaranteed lowest Super League finish after latest defeat

Pictures Eddie Whitham

MATT Dufty scored four tries but Warrington Wolves’ second half comeback wasn’t enough as they went down 38-36 at Huddersfield Giants.

The Wolves trailed 32-10 at halftime after conceding six tries in a 24-minute spell in the first half and despite their second-half efforts, they are now guaranteed to finish in their lowest ever Super League position.

Warrington, inspired by England half-back George Williams, made a sensational start to score inside 30 seconds.

Jake Wardle charged 40 metres and his offload to Dufty looked suspiciously forward, but the Australian full-back raced away to provide Stefan Ratchford with an easy conversion.

Wire’s lead lasted six minutes until hooker Adam O’Brien went over from dummy half to spark a run of three tries in eight minutes.

The lead could have been greater but Will Pryce, recalled to the side and taking over kicking duties from Oliver Russell, missed two of his three conversion attempts.

Josh Jones crashed through for Giants’ second try while Josh Thewlis’ handling error presented a gift score to Tui Lolohea.

Evergreen Leroy Cudjoe, operating on the wing in Jermaine McGillvary’s injury absence, sparked another run of tries after 23 minutes.

Three minutes later Ricky Leutele chased and touched down Louis Senior’s kick before on-loan Warrington centre Toby King jumped highest to collect Russell’s crossfield kick for try number six after 29 minutes.

Trailing 30-6, Warrington rediscovered their attacking edge with Josh Lynch marking his Super League debut with a try from Williams’ kick.

Pryce landed a 40th-minute penalty to leave Warrington trailing 32-10 and needing a second-half miracle which they very nearly achieved.

The visitors suddenly made it a contest, scoring two converted tries in five minutes at the start of the second half.

Williams was the inspiration for both, kicking ahead for Wardle to score against his parent club and then off-loading for Dufty’s third try in two games.

Leon Hayes, like fellow teenager Lynch making his senior bow, converted both.

Pryce, who finished with 14 points, eased home nerves with a 64th-minute try and conversion that eventually proved the difference as Warrington tried to salvage at least a golden point finish.

Dufty completed his hat-trick and Williams grabbed a deserved touchdown.

Hayes could not add the extras to either so when Dufty notched his fourth try just before the final hooter Warrington still came up just short.

Huddersfield: Lolohea, Senior, Leutele, King, Cudjoe, Pryce, Russell, English, Jones, Hewitt, Hill, O’Brien, Trout. Interchanges: Yates, Greenwood, Levi, Ashworth.

Warrington: Dufty, Lynch, Mata’utia, Wardle, Thewlis, Ratchford, Williams, Harrison, Walker, Bullock, Holroyd, Nicholson, Holmes. Interchanges: Clark, Mulhern, Thomas, Hayes.