Warrington Wolves 36

Huddersfield Giants 8

DANNY Farrar turned back the clock to steer the Wolves to their highest win of the season in a match which celebrated the 100th anniversary of Wilderspool Stadium.

It needed something special to please the fans after they had seen the likes of Parry Gordon, Steve Hesford, Bob Eccles, Mike Nicholas, Ali Brindle and 91-year-old Bill Shankland gracing the turf again in a parade of 50 past players.

The something special was provided by Farrar, one player guaranteed a spot with the Wolves next season as he is on a two year contract.

Skipper Farrar, normally a hooker, played scrum half for the second week running and stole the show with an explosive display of running rugby.

The Australian had made 45 tackles against Hull the week before but on Sunday it was his attacking skills that stood out.

Afterwards coach Darryl Van de Velde admitted it looked as if Farrar had played scrum half for all of his career. In fact, Farrar revealed it had been seven years since he had last pulled on the No.7 jersey.

There were also good performances from Lee Briers, Steve McCurrie and Mark Forster in a squad still suffering with injuries but eager to please. Five players took to the field with painkilling injections!

Warrington took full advantage of Halifax being reduced to 12 men by scoring two tries while winger James Bunyan was in the sin bin for a professional foul.

Stand off Briers attacked the Huddersfield line and after showing the ball he weaved between players to touch down in the 11th minute.

Three minutes later Briers noticed the cover on Bunyan's wing was missing and the Wales international punted the ball for winger Forster to chase and touch down.

Huddersfield's new boy Bobbie Goulding was jeered and booed by the Warrington fans as he tried to pull the Giants back into it. He missed two penalty shots but banged over a third attempt.

The Wolves were looking a little ragged but still managed to come up with a try. Second rower McCurrie dabbed the ball forward. He miskicked but the ball bounced nicely for centre Mike Eagar to cross. Briers added his first conversion.

Briers then supplied the pass that set Farrar on one of his several fine runs. The Wolves skipper stepped on the gas to escape former Wire player Basil Richards and with support on either side of him he elected to put centre Mike Pechey over for the final try of the half.

McCurrie crashed on to Farrar's long pass and bulldozed his way through three tacklers to score soon after the restart. Briers converted from the touchline.

Huddersfield had the better of the scrappy period that followed and scored their only try of the game after Pechey was sin-binned for tackling Andy Cheetham without the ball.

Former Great Britain player Paul Loughlin made the break that led to Cheetham touching down three minutes later.

Warrington were determined to add to their own scoreline. A barging run by McCurrie led to Forster putting Eagar over for his second and Briers added the extras with his boot from the touchline.

Loudest cheer of the day was saved for the scorer of the final try, Farrar. The Australian hared in from 35 yards after beating full back Danny Arnold.

Converted for the new archive on 13 March 2001. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.