Match report: Huddersfield Giants 48 - 16 Wigan

Sep 14 2009 by Chris Roberts, Huddersfield Daily Examiner

GIANTS FINISH IN REAL STYLE

At 18-4, Huddersfield already appeared to be building up a match-winning lead.

But Pat Richards’ converted try on the stroke of half-time meant the Warriors were far from finished.

They were, however, within 13 minutes of the restart as the Giants raced in for three tries to take them 26 points ahead.

Liam Fulton set the ball rolling after 44 minutes, dabbing through a grubber kick which bounced over a whole host of players before falling perfectly for Cudjoe to score the easiest of tries.

Then five minutes later, Sean O’Loughlin fumbled Brett Hodgson’s kick-through and Lunt was on hand to plunge over for his second.

And minutes later, the home side were over again as the ball was worked magnificently to the left for Whatuira to collect 10m out and step magically past several defenders to touch down.

The ever-reliable Hodgson landed the conversions and the Giants were out of sight.

The advantage should have been increased midway through the half when Fulton just failed to ground the ball after good initial work from Martin Aspinwall and Robinson.

But moments later Huddersfield weren’t to be denied when brilliant handling – with a memorable Danny Sculthorpe pass out of the back door the highlight – gave Cudjoe his second.

A Joel Tomkins’ try and Richards’ goal temporarily broke the Giants’ domination.

But with three minutes remaining, the home side put the icing on the cake when Cudjoe intercepted 10m from his own line and showed great pace to beat the cover and complete his hat trick in the corner.