Match report: Wigan Warriors 16 Huddersfield Giants 18

Aug 16 2010 by Chris Roberts, Huddersfield Daily Examiner

THE GIANTS proved they have what it takes to reach the Super League Grand Final with a brilliant victory at table-toppers Wigan.

The match was supposed to be the occasion when the Warriors claimed the league leaders shield, but instead it was heroic Huddersfield who looked the champion team with a five-star performance that had absolutely everything

The spirit, effort and commitment was simply immense as they combined a rock solid defensive performance with an attacking cutting edge as they took the game to their rivals.

On this evidence there is no doubt winning play-off games for the first time is a distinct possibility for the Giants.

Given the amount of possession and territorial advantage Wigan had, the Giants couldn’t have been too disappointed to have trailed by 10-0 at the interval.

Apart from one or two brief forays into the Warriors’ half, the opening 40 minutes was played almost exclusively in the area Huddersfield were defending.

But fortunately, the visitors were up to the task, restricting Wigan to just two first-half scores from Paul Deacon kicks to the corner.

The first came after five minutes when Karl Pryce leaped the highest to touch down in the right corner, too wide for Pat Richards to convert.

And the second came five minutes before the break when Richards jumped for a ball that fell behind him and straight to Joel Tomkins to stroll over with ease for a converted try.

But in between there was no shortage of excitement.

Only several last-ditch Giants tackles prevented Wigan from adding to their tally.

Unfortunately, on one of those occasions after 15 minutes Kevin Brown was sent to the sin-bin for obstruction.

And moments later he was joined in the cooler by Keith Mason and Stuart Fielden for their part in a mass brawl as frustration among both sets of players increased.

That seemed to have a far more positive effect on the visitors, with winger David Hodgson twice going close to extending his try tally for the season as he faced his old club.