THINGS can change very quickly in Super League XVIII and not just the weather!

Two weeks ago, concern was high that Wolves – quite unlike them in recent times – had managed to score only one try in three halves of rugby while losing consecutive games in the process.

Now, 12 tries richer and the gap to the leaders narrowed to one point after cutting Huddersfield Giants down to size on Friday, plaudits are due for having only conceded one touch down in two matches.

That is a great effort, with the forwards particularly making their presence felt!

And while doubters can point to Salford not providing opposition of strength on March 15, that can certainly not be said when the biggest pack in the British game visited a Halliwell Jones Stadium swamped by Arctic conditions.

Neither side had any rights to provide such an enjoyable spectacle in what were the worst playing conditions experienced by a Wolves team in the era of summer rugby.

Huddersfield’s leading strike weapons were frozen out by arguably the most enthusiastic Wolves defensive display of the year so far.

Holding out for three successive sets on their own line straight after Brett Hodgson’s penalty had put Wolves 8-2 in front was testament to that.

And in that crucial final 10 minutes of the first half, Ryan Atkins’ twinkle-toed dancing feet on the treacherous snow-covered surface defied belief as he created what proved to be a killer try finished off with an athletic dive from Stefan Ratchford.

Wolves certainly looked as though they had warmed to the swirling blizzard and igloo-building temperatures more than their Yorkshire rivals.

It was not perfect.

Richie Myler knocked on four times as Jack Forst took a bite of him in the opening quarter.

But he rewarded the humongous efforts of men like Garreth Carvell, Chris Hill, Paul Wood and co by setting up both tries in the second half to show once again his ever improving creative ability.

INTERESTING NOTES

Richie Myler has now had a hand in 10 of Wolves’ last 14 tries scored

Stefan Ratchford is the Wolves player with the longest run of consecutive appearances, with his 27 games going back to Wakefield away on May 20, 2012

Wolves have won each of their last six meetings with Huddersfield

First time in six meetings that Joel Monaghan has failed to score against Huddersfield

Wolves’ lowest home Super League attendance since 9,216 saw the 35-16 defeat of Hull Kingston Rovers on June 11, 2010

One more try is needed for Ben Westwood to clock up his 100th in primrose and blue

Wolves have not conceded fewer points in a game since the 47-0 mauling of Huddersfield Giants in the play offs at The Halliwell Jones Stadium on September 16, 2011

MATCH FACTS

Super League Round 8

Friday, March 22, 2013

Warrington Wolves...28

Huddersfield Giants...2

Wolves: Brett Hodgson; Joel Monaghan, Chris Bridge, Ryan Atkins, Chris Riley; Stefan Ratchford, Richie Myler; Chris Hill, Michael Monaghan, Garreth Carvell, Ben Westwood, Simon Grix, Mike Cooper. Subs: Trent Waterhouse, Ben Currie, Micky Higham, Paul Wood.

Giants: Scott Grix; Jermaine McGilvary, Leroy Cudjoe, Joe Wardle, Aaron Murphy; Danny Brough, Luke Robinson; Stuart Fielden, Shaun Lunt, Craig Kopczak, Brett Ferres, Dale Ferguson, Jacob Fairbank. Subs: Eorl Crabtree, David Faiumu, Larne Patrick, Jamie Cording.

Scoring: Brough penalty goal, 7mins, 0-2; Riley try, 21mins, Hodgson conversion, 6-2; Hodgson penalty goal, 30mins, 8-2; Ratchford try, 39mins, Hodgson conversion, 14-2; Hodgson penalty, 41mins, 16-2; Ratchford try, 63mins, Hodgson conversion, 22-2; Hodgson try, 69mins, Hodgson conversion, 28-2.

Pens: Wolves 11 Giants 8

Referee: Ben Thaler

Attendance: 9,797

Top man: Chris Hill