Round 13
Huddersfield Giants 34 l. Warrington Wolves 36

2008 engage English Super League Index [Table] [Draw] [Player Stats] [Club Headlines]

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

Warrington comeback to beat Huddersfield
Mon May 5, 2008
Source: www.superleague.co.uk

Warrington Wolves began the 2008 Millennium Magic event with a thrilling 36-34 win as they overturned a half-time deficit to defeat Huddersfield Giants and put an end to their recent poor form.

Paul Cullen's side had lost their last four games going into the tie and that looked set to become five as Huddersfield eased into a 22-6 interval advantage.

But their full-back Rod Jensen almost single-handedly gave Warrington an escape route to a first league win in six weeks and left his side languishing in 11th place, without a victory in five.

The former North Queensland player lost possession three times to allow Warrington to score four tries in a dramatic seven-minute period early in the second half and swing the momentum back in their favour.

Cullen's men were the only side to score 50 points at last year's event and started brightly here, with Michael Monaghan crossing after six minutes, only for Huddersfield to take charge and open up a commanding half-time lead.

Monaghan's first score in eight games gave his side the perfect start but after Michael Lawrence's first career try helped to level the scores, the Giants began to dominate and scored three further tries before the interval.

Luke Robinson's 11th try of the campaign came first on the back of a neat grubber kick from Ryan Hudson, and with Robinson and his half-back partner Kevin Brown controlling affairs with their kicking, Warrington were unable to respond.

They did threaten briefly with half-breaks from Lee Briers from Kevin Penny, but with their side rarely making it out of their own half in possession, Huddersfield increased in confidence and posted another try just after the 30-minute mark when Andy Raleigh finished off Robinson's slick break.

Tom Hemingway added the goal and did so again just before the interval after Jensen was the recipient of a fine break that involved Paul Whatuira and Shane Elford.

The interval did Huddersfield no favours though as Warrington re-emerged to post four rapid tries and move back in front as Jensen took centre stage for all the wrong reasons.

He had already spilt the ball when set to score an easy second try by the time Stuart Reardon bullied his way over the line for a try that needed the approval of the video referee following an apparent double movement, before Briers followed that up with a quickfire second score in as many minutes after Brown misjudged a kick to narrow the deficit.

To add further to the drama, Jensen then spilt the ball twice more close to his own line and on both occasions Andy Bracek was on hand to take full advantage.

First he took in a neat reverse pass from Monaghan to cross before he emerged victorious from a chase with Jensen after the latter had failed to collect a kick.

With Chris Hicks converting all four tries Warrington were quickly eight points to the good, only for John Skandalis to add to the see-saw nature of the contest with his first try of the season to bring Huddersfield roaring back into the tie.

But they had left themselves with too much to do despite Briers and Raleigh trading late scores.

Report source: www.superleague.co.uk

Article: Cullen thankful for break

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