Warrington secured a top four finish as they narrowly defeat Huddersfield Giants. Here’s our verdict…
MATCH DETAILS
It was a toe-to-toe contest, both sides going at it hammer and tong in an exciting match that went all the way.
It was Simon Woolford’s side who were to score the games first try, with Jake Mamo, sporting a new short hairstyle, unrecognisable in both appearance and performance on a rare start, opening the scoring after 16 minutes.
Scoring his sixth try in two matches, Warrington’s left centre Bryson Goodwin gave the Wire the response they needed, 23 minutes in. With Danny Brough failing to convert Huddersfield’s opening try, Warrington led 6-4.
After a very good pass out to the right hand side touchline Mamo was in again, scoring to make it 6-10, but on his return from 11 weeks out, Ryan Atkins capped the game off with a try to edge the Wire back into the lead.
There was still time for the game to be flipped on its head once again, when Mamo completed a first half hat-trick to put his side two points ahead at the break.
The half time team-talk from Warrington head coach, Steve Price, must have been a good one as the Wire came out of the blocks fast. A cut out pass saw Stefan Ratchford go into score and for the third time in the game, put Warrington back in front.
After a Tyrone Roberts conversion, Tom Lineham snook in at the corner and gave Warrington a bit of breathing space., but the reply from Huddersfield’s Lee Gaskell, with an inside pass from half-back partner, Danny Brough, put the Claret and Gold back within two points.
After a tremendous display against Hull last Thursday, Bryson Goodwin scored his second try of the game to seal the deal, and Warrington were minutes away from being in the top four.
The man who nearly secured that, gave away a penalty which Brough lined up from distance, but his effort fell short and Warrington’s play-off place was secure.
THE RESULT
Warrington Wolves 26
Tries: Goodwin (2), Atkins, Ratchford, Lineham
Goals: Roberts (3)
Drop Goals: n/a
Huddersfield Giants 24
Tries: Mamo (3), Gaskell, Wardle
Goals: Brough (2)
Drop Goals: n/a
SQUADS
Warrington: Ratchford; Lineham, Goodwin, T. King, Charnley; Brown, Roberts; Hill, Clark, Cooper, Hughes, Atkins, Livett.
Interchanges: Philbin, G King, Patton, Pomeroy.
Huddersfield: Rankin; Mamo, Turner, Wardle, Senior; Gaskell, Brough; Ta’ai, O’Brien, Matagi, Mellor, Roberts, Hinchcliffe.
Interchanges: Leeming, Lawrence, Clough, Smith.
