HUDDERSFIELD Giants were beaten by the clock in their bid to secure a first Senior Academy triumph of the season.
In the closing stages of their Super League curtain-raiser clash against Wakefield at Belle Vue, the visitors were pressing strongly for a matchwinning score.
But in a nail-biting finale, the hosts produced an excellent defensive effort to hang on and claim a 28-26 triumph.
It was a thrilling end to a game between two closely-matched sides.
That was reflected in the opening half as the sides were locked at 6-6.
Huddersfield took the lead after nine minutes with a Jon Grayshon try, converted by Danny Garside.
But midway through the half, Trinity hit back with a try from former Giants Academy prop Jon Gledhill and fit-again Super League half-back Jamie Rooney added the conversion.
Wakefield started the second half strongly and dominated for the opening 30 minutes.
Within three minutes of the restart they had taken the lead with a Rooney try and goal and five minutes later Dave Dunwell extended the advantage with another converted score.
The Giants cut the deficit with tries from Bolu Fagborun and Simon George to make it 18-14 by the 56th minute.
But two quickfire Kevin King tries made it 28-14 with 10 minutes remaining and the outcome appeared inevitable.
The Giants, however, had different ideas.
First, George grabbed his second try and then Stuart Donlan added the visitors' fifth, with Paul Mennell landing both conversions to leave the Giants just two points adrift.
Yet despite Huddersfield's best efforts, Trinity held out to secure the points.
