Wakefield Trinity beat Huddersfield Giants by a single point for the second time this season as they won 25-26 at the John Smith’s Stadium. Here’s what happened.
MATCH DETAILS
Ryan Hampshire kicked a late penalty to earn Wakefield a dramatic win over Huddersfield to move up to third in the Super League table.
The hosts trailed 18-6 at the break as Mason Caton-Brown’s double and David Fifita’s brilliant kick and chase, putting the away side in cruise control.
Then Jermaine McGillvary got going. The England winger went over twice in the corner to add to David Frawley’s first-half effort to level the scores at 18-18.
Adam O’Brien then put the hosts in front but Ben Jones-Bishop replied, before Hampshire’s kick sealed victory for Trinity.
The penalty, his fifth successful kick of the game, ensured that his side go above Hull and Catalans on points difference.
Hampshire’s opposition counterpart Oliver Russell also slotted five kicks, including a drop goal which had put the hosts up 25-24 and set for victory before the late drama in a pulsating match.
FOUR POINTERS
Trinity are on fire
This is fast evolving into Wakefield’s best ever season in Super League and sitting third in the table, they will only be looking upwards instead of worrying about the teams below.
Huddersfield need to cut out errors
The Giants, not for the first time this season, were on the wrong end of a desperately close encounter but they only have themselves to blame. They concede too many errors and have been punished on numerous occasions.
Wakefield never give up
After falling behind despite leading 18-6 at half time, many teams would have capitulated but not Wakefield. They kept their discipline and rediscovered some form to pull off another dramatic win over Huddersfield.
The Giants need to improve
Sitting just four points above the bottom of the Super League table, Huddersfield are in some danger. Granted there are worse teams in the division and they should be fine, this squad should be much higher in the standings than they are and, if they become complacent, they could fall further.
THE RESULT
Huddersfield 25
Tries: Frawley, McGillvary 2, O’Brien
Goals: Russell 4
Drop Goals:ย Russell
Wakefield 26
Tries: Caton-Brown 2, Fifita, Jones-Bishop
Goals: Hampshire 5
Drop Goals: n/a
SQUADS
Huddersfield: McIntosh, McGillvary, Turner, Senior, Uate, Russell, Frawley, Ta’ai, Leeming, Matagi, Murphy, Mellor, Lawrence.
Interchanges:ย O’Brien, Roberts, Hewitt, Clough.
Wakefield: Jowitt, Jones-Bishop, Lyne, Caton-Brown, Kershaw, Hampshire, Reynolds, Fifita, Randell, Arona, Kirmond, Horo, Crowther.
Interchanges:ย Wood, Kopczak, King, Pauli.
