Tyler Randell was the star of the show as his hat-trick helped Wakefield Trinity end their five-match losing streak with a stylish win over Huddersfield Giants.
MATCH DETAILS
The visitors actually took the lead when Alex Mellor’s scored against the run of play, but Randell replied in bullish fashion as the hosts got a foothold in the game.
Louis Senior re-established Huddersfield’s lead, but the tables turned when Giants’ Aaron Murphy was sin-binned.
From then on, there was only one winner and Randell wasted no time in punishing the away side – claiming his second try to make it 16-10 to Trinity just three seconds before the the halftime hooter as ex-Giant Danny Brough kicked 8 first half points.
In the second forty, Huddersfield showed plenty of fighting spirit but never truly troubled the Wakefield defence. Wakefield could barely walk off the pitch after the grueling 25-26 win over Huddersfield at the John Smith’s Stadium in March, but this was much, much easier.
Randell completed his brilliant hattrick – his first tries of the season – after Brough teed up Jordan Crowther and Jacob Miller carried the ball 40 metres to add his name to the scoresheet with little time remaining.
The defeat leaves Huddersfield perched perilously close to the foot of the table after Hull KR beat local rivals Hull FC 16-10 at KCOM Craven Park on Thursday, whilst the win eases any Wakefield nerves as the move clear of the teams below them.
Wakefield are good enough Huddersfield are in a battle Trinity should be looking up the table The Giants need their big names to step up
FOUR POINTERS
Wakefield are good enough
Recent form had seen Wakefield slowly slide down the Super League table, with many thinking they could sleepwalk into trouble, but they always play well against those below them and that’s all they have to do.
Huddersfield are in a battle
Even with the returning Leroy Cudjoe and Jermaine McGillivary, Huddersfield were poor. They battled well in the first half and were perhaps unlucky to trail at the interval, but their second half showing was simply not good enough.
Trinity should be looking up the table
Six points clear of Leeds and playing Catalans, Castleford and Wigan to play in their next three games, Wakefield will be looking to use this win to build confidence and momentum to climb the table.
The Giants need their big names to step up
Huddersfield’s squad is one that should not go down, but routine, continual errors have seen them underperform yet again and, if they’re not careful, they will find themselves punished fully.
THE RESULT
Wakefield Trinity 36
Tries: Randell (3), Crowther, Miller
Goals: Brough (4), Hampshire (3)
Drop Goals:ย Brough, Miller
Huddersfield Giants 10
Tries: Mellor, L Senior
Goals: Gaskell
Drop Goals: n/a
SQUADS
Wakefield Trinity:ย Hampshire, Jones-Bishop, Lyne, Tupou, Caton-Brown, Miller, Brough, England, Randell, Kopczak, Pauli, Tanginoa, Crowther.
Interchanges:ย King, Wood, Fifita, Gwaze.
Huddersfield Giants:ย McIntosh, L. Senior, Cudjoe, Turner, I. Senior, Gaskell, Frawley, Clough, O’Brien, Ikahihifo, Murphy, Mellor, Lawrence.
Interchanges:ย Leeming, Matagi, Ferguson, Ta’ai.
Sin bin:ย Murphy (35)
Referee:ย Greg Dolan.
