Round 20
Warrington Wolves 30 d. Huddersfield Giants 26

2006 English Super League Index [Table] [Draw] [Player Stats] [Club Headlines]

Location: United Kingdom > National > First Grade Competition: English Super League

Wolves claim hard-fought win
Mon July 10, 2006
Source: www.superleague.co.uk

Warrington strengthened their grip on a play-off place by claiming a hard-fought, 30-26 home victory over Huddersfield.

The Wolves looked in danger of slipping out of the top six after a run of four defeats, but a morale-boosting win at the Halliwell Jones Stadium has sent them above Salford into fifth on points difference.

The visitors needed a win just as much as Warrington but a fourth straight defeat leaves them in a precarious position narrowly above the relegation places.

Giants took the lead through a Kevin Brown try and worked hard to stay in the game after four first-half tries from Warrington - two from promising scrum-half Simon Grix - had given them a 22-4 half-time lead.

Tries from Andy Raleigh and Chris Thorman cut the deficit after the restart, and although Henry Fa'afili and Toa Kohe-Love kept the Wolves in front, further Brown and Raleigh tries left them hanging on.

The two teams showed how vital this game was to each of them as neither was willing to give an inch in the early stages.

But Huddersfield finally broke the deadlock in the 18th minute when scrum-half Robbie Paul dummied one way before sending a grubber kick to the blindside for Brown to touch down.

Michael De Vere failed to add the extras and Warrington levelled the scores almost immediately after sweeping the ball wide to the right, where Martin Gleeson had enough room to lay on an easy try for Fa'afili.

Briers missed the kick but in the 24th minute the Warrington captain, who this week signed a two-year contract extension, produced a 40-20 to put his side in a great position to take the lead.

From the scrum, Warrington swept the ball out left, where Grix strolled over after shrugging off Brown.

Grix had to regather after Brown's challenge and referee Richard Silverwood sent the decision to the video referee, but the try was given as the ball went backwards.

Briers made it 10-4 and the star stand-off helped his side go further ahead in the 29th minute when he passed to Reardon to charge into a gap on the left and touch down unchallenged.

Warrington were now in full stride and a Huddersfield penalty in the 31st minute allowed them to reinforce their advantage.

Michael Sullivan, filling in for injured hooker Jon Clarke, attacked on the left from dummy half before offloading for Grix to score his second try.

Briers kicked a penalty just before the break but the visitors cut the deficit shortly after the restart when Raleigh forced his way over under the posts.

Hooker Brad Drew then worked a gap for Chris Thorman to make it 22-14, although the home crowd claimed a forward pass in the build-up.

Warrington regrouped and stayed clear when Fa'afili scored in the corner in the 57th minute after Briers had thrown a dummy before laying off to Gleeson.

Huddersfield hit back with Paul laying off to Brown, who threw a dummy himself before crossing for his second try.

But Warrington restored a 10-point cushion in the 65th minute through Toa Kohe-Love following a cross-field kick by Briers.

Warrington looked to be home and dry but Raleigh wriggled through the Wolves defence to score a superb try with four minutes remaining, and De Vere's kick left the home side sweating.

Report source: www.superleague.co.uk

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