Match report: Wigan Warriors 8 - 22 Huddersfield Giants

Mar 28 2009 by Chris Roberts, Huddersfield Daily Examiner

BRAVE Huddersfield Giants extended their superb unbeaten Super League away run to eight games with the toughest of victories over Wigan at the JJB Stadium.

That great eight had begun with the 34-4 win at the same venue last July when the visitors had won at an absolute canter.

But it was far from straight forward this time around as coach Nathan Brown’s men had to dig incredibly deep to make it five wins from seven Super League XIV starts.

As well as having to overcome the windiest of Wigan conditions, the Giants had to soften up a Warriors side who looked determined to erase those bitter memories of last season’s JJB encounter.

But this Giants side is definitely made of sterner stuff than in previous years and no-one could deny that the visitors didn’t deserve to savour another very special night.

With the blustery conditions making it tough for the teams to settle, it took time for the players to get into their stride.

But it was the visitors who drew first blood with an eighth-minute Brett Hodgson penalty after a cute Luke Robinson kick had forced a Wigan drop-out.

Wigan threatened to hit back four minutes later when Gareth Hock lost the ball over the line, but they made no mistake in the 17th minute when Andy Coley kept the ball alive superbly to set up the position for Phil Bailey to finish out wide.

Pat Richards was unable to convert from the touchline, a problem that Hodgson didn’t have to encounter as he banged over a second penalty to level the scores on the 20-minute mark.