Super League: Huddersfield Giants 32-22 Wigan Warriors

Louis Senior has scored four tries in three Super League games this season

Louis Senior scored a hat-trick as Huddersfield Giants beat Wigan Warriors in a dress rehearsal for the Challenge Cup final later this month.

Senior and Ricky Leutele crossed for the home side in the first half, with Sam Halsall going over for Wigan.

Senior got his second and Jake Wardle added to their lead but Halsall got his second and Matty Nicholson went over.

Sam Hewitt put the Giants in charge, only for Nicholson to score again, but Senior sealed his treble at the end.

The two teams will meet again at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on Saturday, 28 May.

Victory for Ian Watson's men ended a run of six successive defeats by the Warriors and they made a perfect start when Senior went over for his first in the opening minutes.

Leutele scored on his 200th professional appearance - while the home side were down to 12 men, with Joe Greenwood in the sin bin - to give them daylight before Halsall got Wigan on the board after Iain Thornley's linebreak had given them good field position.

The impressive Tui Lolohea teed up Senior's second with a superb long distance pass, after his initial grubber kick rebounded to him, and Wardle showed great skill to touch down in the corner to make it 22-6.

It looked like that would be that but the Warriors showed good tenacity to get back in it through Halsall's second of the night and debutant Nicholson's first, after a high Harry Smith kick caused panic in the Giants defence.

Wigan again fought back after Hewitt scored his first of the season, when Nicholson scored his second, and they forced the hosts into a goalline drop-out with just 90 seconds remaining.

However, Lolohea's excellent kick was allowed to bounce into touch and the home side capitalised with Senior going over to complete his hat-trick right on the hooter.

Huddersfield host lowly Toulouse next Friday, while Wigan face Hull KR next Saturday before the sides meet again for the Challenge Cup.

Huddersfield coach Ian Watson:

"I don't think there's a psychological advantage. I just think with the amount of changes, this is a separate occasion, just a different game, and in two weeks it's a different mentality altogether.

"There were some guys who stood up and I'd highlight Sam Hewitt. It was his first game for a while and he was outstanding.

"We wanted to show how good our squad was and that it can win even when we do make changes. People are always going to put their hands up and I think Sam did his chances the world of good."

Wigan coach Matt Peet:

"Some of the young players will benefit from it but everyone needs to learn from tonight.

"Defensively we weren't there. There were glimpses but I don't think we had any sustained pressure and at times we looked sloppy.

"We need to be better. Some of the things we did tonight were below par. It was a little bit of a step back. It's how we respond and I'm sure we will."

Huddersfield: Lolohea, Golding, Leutele, Wardle, Senior, Russell, Fages, English, Ashworth, Hewitt, Greenwood, O'Brien, Wilson.

Interchanges: Levi, Mason, Lawrence, Trout

Wigan: French, Halsall, Thornley, Bibby, Miski, Astley, Smith, Singleton, O'Neil, Ellis, Isa, McDonnell, Partington

Interchanges: Mago, Havard, Shorrocks, Nicholson

Referee: Tom Grant

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