Super League: Huddersfield Giants 25-26 Wakefield Trinity
- Published
Betfred Super League |
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Huddersfield (6) 25 |
Tries: Frawley, McGillvary 2, O'Brien Goals: Russell 4 Drop goal: Russell |
Wakefield (18) 26 |
Tries: Caton-Brown 2, Fifita, Ben Jones-Bishop Goals: Hampshire 5 |
Ryan Hampshire slotted a late penalty as Wakefield earned a dramatic win over Huddersfield to move up to third.
Giants trailed 18-6 at the break with Mason Caton-Brown's double and David Fifita's lovely kick and chase putting the visitors in control.
But Jermaine McGillvary twice went over in the corner to add to David Frawley's first-half score to level at 18-18.
Adam O'Brien then scored for the hosts and Ben Jones-Bishop replied, before Hampshire's boot ensured victory.
The penalty, his fifth successful kick of the game, ensured that his side go above Hull and Catalans on points difference.
But Wakefield's win was overshadowed by a serious knee injury to prop Tinirau Arona.
Hampshire's counterpart Oliver Russell also slotted five kicks, including a drop goal which had put the hosts up 25-24 and set for victory before the late drama in a pulsating match.
Caton-Brown's early double meant Trinity seized control, the winger scoring his opener from a delightful Ben Reynolds pass and dancing through for his second as the visitors built a 12-point interval lead.
A topsy-turvy encounter saw England winger McGillvary's double inspire a stirring second-half fightback and level the scores.
O'Brien's try under the posts saw Giants lead for the first time, but Jones-Bishop intercepted to scamper the length of the pitch and the reliable kicking of Hampshire secured the points.
Huddersfield Giants coach Simon Woolford:
"Coming up short by a point is disappointing, but we only played to our gameplan for 25 minutes of the second half. As has happened many times this season, we capitulated.
"We stole defeat from the jaws of victory and have no-one to blame but ourselves. But I've got total belief in this squad. There is no reason why, when we do put 80 minutes together, we can't win games.
"There were some disappointing errors there which cost the team, but Darnell McIntosh wasn't alone. He is down and very upset. Hopefully he will learn from that."
Wakefield coach Chris Chester:
"It looks like a ruptured MCL and potentially ACL as well for Tinirau Arona. It takes the shine off a really big win, so it's really disappointing.
"I have never known a season like it for injuries. The challenge got put on report, so I'll let the match review people look at that.
"It looks like being a minimum of three months on the sidelines. I really feel for 'T' because he's been really good for us.
Huddersfield: McIntosh, McGillvary, Turner, Senior, Uate, Russell, Frawley, Ta'ai, Leeming, Matagi, Murphy, Mellor, Lawrence.
Interchanges: O'Brien, Roberts, Hewitt, Clough.
Wakefield: Jowitt, Jones-Bishop, Lyne, Caton-Brown, Kershaw, Hampshire, Reynolds, Fifita, Randell, Arona, Kirmond, Horo, Crowther.
Interchanges: Wood, Kopczak, King, Pauli.
- Published25 March 2017
- Published21 May 2019