Warriors defeat the Giants

• Match Report as Wigan Warriors came from behind to defeat Huddersfield Giants at The Brick Community Stadium.
• Second half tries from Jake Wardle, Ryan Hampshire, Jai Field and Zach Eckersley turned the game around for the Warriors.
• FT | Wigan Warriors 28-14 Huddersfield Giants.

Wigan Warriors came from behind to defeat huddersfield giants 28-14 at the brick community stadium.

Jai Field returned to action for the first time since the Betfred Challenge Cup Final win in May, with Kruise Leeming also returning from injury to start.

Despite trailing 8-0 at the break, the Warriors fought back with tries from Jake Wardle, Ryan Hampshire, Field and Zach Eckersley to turn the game around.

Report

It was an electric start for Wigan who went close in the opening set as Field and Wardle combined to send Liam Marshall down the left edge, however, a well-executed ankle tap brought the winger to the ground to stop a certain try. Wardle went close in the follow up but the centre was stopped just short for the turnover.

Huddersfield opened the scoring on 15 minutes as a ball, juggled by Jake Bibby, was batted out to Sam Halsall on the left edge before Bibby received possession to go over. Jake Connor added the two as the visitors held the 6-0 lead after the opening quarter.

With Wigan looking to get on the scoreboard, Field was instrumental on his return to the side. A great break saw him get the Warriors into the Huddersfield half though the attack came to nothing.

Moments later Bibby collected a loose ball and looked to be heading for a long-range score before the Warriors full-back hunted the Giants down, the next play saw a pass to the right edge with an overlap sail into touch past Aidan McGowan as it remained 6-0 to Huddersfield.

With five minutes to go in the first half the Giants were awarded a penalty for offside 10m away from Wigan’s line. They opted to kick for two, which was successful from the boot of Jake Connor to see Huddersfield in with the 8-0 lead at the turnaround.

A Warriors handling error at the start of the second half returned possession to the visitors who, off the back of a repeat set, worked the ball to Tui Lolohea but his kick in behind was kicked for a drop out by Marshall.

After multiple carries through the middle, a deep kick from Lolohea was claimed by Wardle who broke through the initial tackle before accelerating the full length to score under the sticks. Keighran reduced the points further with a successful kick with 49 minutes on the clock.

The Warriors advanced deep into the Huddersfield half from the restart after the Giants were penalised. A strong carry from Dupree took Wigan 20m out before a kick on the final tackle was claimed by Hampshire who dived over to score with Keighran adding the extras for a 12-8 lead.

Wigan continued to build momentum which resulted in a third try just after the hour when a moment of brilliance from Field saw him dance through three tackles to dive over. Keighran added the extras to give the Warriors an 18-8 lead.

The Warriors almost crossed again minutes later when Abbas Miski broke free down the right edge before kicking inside to Sam Walters, however, the ball bounced unkindly for the second rower to gather. After successive moments of ill-discipline from Huddersfield, Keighran took the opportunity to widen the points difference from the tee.

The two points were sealed in the final five minutes when a fantastically executed kick on the first tackle out the scrum from Hampshire was gathered by Eckersley who raced away to dive over in the corner as Keighran nailed the kick from the touchline.

Huddersfield reduced the points difference with two minutes remaining when Halsall dived over for a converted score after claiming a high kick, however, Keighran added two more points from the tee with the final action of the contest to give the Warriors a 28-18 win.

Gallery:

Wigan Warriors: Jai Field, Abbas Miski, Adam Keighran, Jake Wardle, Liam Marshall, Ryan Hampshire, Harry Smith, Ethan Havard, Kruise Leeming, Luke Thompson, Junior Nsemba, Liam Farrell, Kaide Ellis.

Interchanges: Patrick Mago, Tyler Dupree, Sam Walters, Zach Eckersley.

18th Player: Harvie Hill.

Tries: Wardle (48′), Hampshire (52′), Field (64′), Eckersley (75′).

Goals: Keighran (6/6).

Huddersfield Giants: Jake Connor, Aidan McGowan, Jake Bibby, Kevin Naiqama, Sam Halsall, Tui Lolohea, Olly Russell, Chris Hill, Adam Milner, Matty English, Sam Hewitt, Harry Rushton, Leroy Cudjoe.

Interchanges: Thomas Deakin, Andre Savelio, Fenton Rogers, Seb Ikahihifo.

18th Player: Hugo Salabio.

Tries: Bibby (15′)

Goals: Connor (2/2).

Referee: Aaron Moore.

Attendance: 11, 660.