A VIBE of joy and relief swept round The Halliwell Jones Stadium at the full-time hooter. Job done…just.

Second place going into the Super 8s with a Challenge Cup semi-final on the horizon is something many Wire fans would have taken in February, but Saturday’s performance shows much to work on.

It started well, with Stefan Ratchford’s interception followed swiftly by Ben Currie finishing off a slick move.

However, once former Wolves man Gene Ormsby crossed for his first try and after Ratchford had gone off injured, the hosts’ play seemed to lose all rhythm.

Aaron Murphy controversially brought the Giants level before Ormsby was presented with another simple finish to give Rick Stone’s men the lead with five minutes of the half remaining.

It looked a safe lead going into the break, but Ben Westwood had other ideas. He was excellent off the bench and capped his performance with the try that nudged Wolves ahead again.

Back came the bottom-placed visitors after the break as Nathan Mason rumbled over, but that seemed to spark The Wire’s best spell of the match.

Chris Sandow showcased his magic feet to step his way over to snatch the initiative back before Ryan Atkins crossed in typical fashion, all in the space of four minutes.

A two-score lead and their mojo seemed to have reappeared, but Wolves left the back door open and it almost cost them them points.

Ormsby dived over to complete a fitting hat-trick before Craig Huby was allowed to simply stroll through a huge gap for the score that looked like earning the Yorkshiremen an unlikely win.

The Wire seemed to be running out of ideas, but on the club’s Heritage Day they displayed some good old-fashioned grit to get them through.

After the tackle count had been restarted and Toby King had galloped in field, his grounded offload looked to have brought an end to the attack but referee Jack Smith waved play on and Daryl Clark, ever the opportunist, gobbled up the loose ball to dive over.

An exhilarating game for neutrals, of that there can be no doubt, but Wolves know improvement is a must in Leigh this weekend. Especially with the stakes so high.

MATCH FACTS: Wolves: Stefan Ratchford; Matty Russell, Toby King, Ryan Atkins, Rhys Evans; Kurt Gidley, Chris Sandow; Chris Hill, Daryl Clark, Ashton Sims, Jack Hughes, Ben Currie, Joe Westerman. Subs: Brad Dwyer, Ben Westwood, George King, Ryan Bailey.

Giants: Ryan Brierley; Aaron Murphy, Leroy Cudjoe, Jake Connor, Gene Ormsby; Danny Brough, Jamie Ellis; Sam Rapira, Ryan Hinchcliffe, Craig Huby, Ukuma Ta’ai, Michael Lawrence, Sebastine Ikahihifo. Subs: Kyle Wood, Oliver Roberts, Nathan Mason, Eorl Crabtree.

Scoring: Ratchford try, 7mins, 4-0; Currie try, 13mins, Gidley goal, 10-0; Ormsby try, 20mins, Brough goal, 10-6; Murphy try, 25mins, 10-10; Ormsby try, 35mins, 10-14; Westwood try, 39mins, Gidley goal, 16-14; Mason try, 45mins, Brough goal, 16-20; Sandow try, 51mins, Gidley goal, 22-20; Atkins try, 55mins, Gidley goal, 28-20; Ormsby try, 63mins, 28-24; Huby try, 70mins, Brough goal, 28-30; Clark try, 76mins, Gidley goal, 34-30.

Penalties: Wolves 7 Giants 6.

Referee: Jack Smith.

Attendance: 9,829.

Top man: Ben Westwood.

INTERESTING NOTES:

. Wolves secure their fifth win in a row.

. First win in six attempts against Huddersfield.