Valiant Giants fall short

Huddersfield Giants 18-19 Warrington Wolves

Huddersfield Giants lost out late again thanks to a Blake Austin drop-goal, which moved the Wolves level on points at the summit of Super League. 

Huddersfield were negatively affected by injuries before and during the match, with Lee Gaskell's absence from the starting line-up leading to a start for Tom Holmes at Stand-Off, but the Giants were boosted by the return of Leroy Cudjoe, playing just his second game in 14 months. 

They were down a man early on in the match, as Matty English failed a Head Assessment after a tackle from Ben Murdoch-Masila, which saw the Warrington Forward spent 10 in the cooler for a high-tackle.

Ukuma Ta'ai crossed first for the Giants, while Ben Currie got over for the hosts, with 4 points apiece from the boot of Ratchford and Sezer leaving the sides level at 8-8 at the break. 

Tom Lineham & Gareth Widdop got over for Warrington in the second half to give the Wire the lead before Sezer found Jermaine McGillvary with an exceptional pass to keep the Giants in the game with 20 minutes left. 

The Giants by this point had lost Ta'ai, English and prop Adam Walne to injury, and were further put under the cosh losing captain Aidan Sezer after the McGillvary try.

Despite having just 13 fit players closing the match, the Giants continued to play fine Rugby and got their reward courtesy of a fine Cudjoe pass setting up Oliver Russell, who converted his own try to level the scores with four to play. Blake Austin broke Giants hearts a few minutes later, slotting a one-pointer over the bar to give the Wire the win.  

Huddersfield: Golding; McGillvary, Cudjoe, J Wardle, McIntosh; Holmes, Sezer; English, O'Brien, Matagi, Edwards, Ta'ai, Lawrence.

Interchanges: Russell, Hewitt, Wood, Walne.

Warrington: Ratchford; Lineham, Mamo, King, Charnley; Austin, Widdop; Hill, D Clark, Cooper, Currie, Murdoch-Masila, Hughes.

Interchanges: J Clark, Philbin, Akauola, Walker.