Warrington Wolves 30 Huddersfield Giants 22

WOLVES lived dangerously and sent supporters’ nervousness into overload but they sniffed out a route to Old Trafford in the final throes of a physical qualifier.

An entire season’s work boiled down to 80 minutes of do-or-die rugby league and the tension became almost unbearable as two tries from league leaders Huddersfield cut Warrington’s advantage to two points despite having played second fiddle for much of the game.

With six minutes remaining, the championship dream was back in the melting pot and it was ‘squeaky-bum’ time. Who would produce the match-winning play, who would make the crucial error?

As has so often been the case in his 17 years with the club, a piece of Lee Briers genius finished off Huddersfield’s resolve.

Under heavy pressure, the half-back’s reverse cross-field kick – which had Andrew Johns’ name written all over it – bamboozled Luke Robinson, the ball bouncing kindly for Simon Grix to cross for his second try in the 76th minute.

A pin-point Briers kick had also brought a crucial 45th-minute score for Ryan Atkins, one that had put Wolves into a commanding 24-10 lead.

But despite piling on pressure with a smart kicking game, handling errors left them unable to kill off the Giants at that stage.

Super League top points scorer and Man of Steel Danny Brough inspired the visitors, tries following from Jermaine McGilvary and Dale Ferguson to leave supporters biting their nails.

It was Wolves who had navigated a fightback in the first half.

Two tries in the final nine minutes of the opening period ensured Wolves turned around 18-10 in control, with Richie Myler the chief architect on those occasions.

The scrum half, having played only 70 minutes in three months due to knee ligament damage, was understandably sluggish at first and overcame hobbling from an early ankle injury to repay the coach’s faith.

First, he nonchalantly came from nowhere to create an overlap on the right, accepting a perfectly executed Briers pass and feeding Chris Bridge to put Joel Monaghan over for his second try of the game and 30th score of the season.

Then, after Briers had been held up over the Huddersfield line, his dangerously drilled diagonal grubber was fluffed by Leroy Cudjoe for Grix to pounce for his opening touchdown.

Another man repaying Tony Smith’s confidence was Stefan Ratchford, selected ahead of the influential and experienced fit-again full back Brett Hodgson.

He was a threat running from deep and his three towering touchline conversions in the first half gave his side a psychological edge.

There were heroes in the pack too.

Ben Westwood, the scorer of four tries against Leeds in booking the semi-final spot, worked his socks off in ensuring Wolves were on the front foot for much of the attritional battle.

He had fantastic support from Chris Hill, Paul Wood, Ben Harrison and Grix, as well as the departing pack trio Adrian Morley, Garreth Carvell and Mike Cooper, all of whom made their considerable presences felt off the bench in their final home game in primrose and blue.

They showed in their grit and application that they did not want to let anybody down – and nobody was on a night to savour at The Halliwell Jones Stadium.

 

 

Qualifying Semi Final 

Thursday, September 26, 2013 

Warrington Wolves...30 Huddersfield Giants...22

Wolves: Stefan Ratchford; Joel Monaghan, Chris Bridge, Ryan Atkins, Chris Riley; Lee Briers, Richie Myler; Paul Wood, Micky Higham, Chris Hill, Ben Westwood, Simon Grix, Ben Harrison. Subs: Adrian Morley, Michael Monaghan, Garreth Carvell, Mike Cooper.

Giants: Jake Connor; Jermaine McGilvary, Leroy Cudjoe, Joe Wardle, Aaron Murphy; Danny Brough, Luke Robinson; Eorl Crabtree, Shaunt Lunt, Craig Kopczak, Brett Ferres, Jason Chan, Michael Lawrence. Subs: Larne Patrick, Ukuma Ta'ai, Dale Ferguson, Kyle Wood.

Scoring: Joel Monaghan try, 2mins, Ratchford goal, 6-0; Brough try, 9mins, Brough goal, 6-6; Connor try, 24mins, 6-10; Joel Monaghan try, 35mins, Ratchford goal, 12-10; Grix try, 40+mins, Ratchford goal, 18-10; Atkins try, 45mins, Ratchford goal, 24-10; McGilvary try, 51mins, Brough goal, 24-16; Ferguson try, 74mins, Brough goal, 24-22; Grix try, 76mins, Ratchford goal, 30-22.

Penalties: Wolves 7 Giants 3

Referee: Richard Silverwood

Attendance: 10,042

Top Man: Ben Westwood