Wigan defeated Huddersfield Giants 30-22 tonight in the opening game of the Super 8s at the DW Stadium to consolidate their place in the top four, moving five points ahead of the Giants, who remain in fourth place in the table.
But the Giants looked as though they were going to shock their hosts early on, with two tries to winter Jermaine McGillvary, the first of which was converted by Danny Brough.
Wigan were hampered as they tried to fight back by conceding too many needless penalties, but they finally managed to get on the scoreboard after 32 minutes, when Liam Farrell showed great footwork to go over the line, with Matty Smith adding the goal to make the margin four points at the interval.
After ten minutes of the second half Wigan looked as though they were going to draw level through Josh Charnley, but Scott Grix nudged his arm as he tried to ground the ball and the chance was lost.
But Wigan were growing in confidence and they took the lead with a try by Manfredi, goaled by Smith and then another by George Williams, who supported a great Farrell break.
The two loan players then swapped tries, with Wigan’s Jack Hughes scoring for the Giants and Larne Patrick, on loan from Huddersfield, scoring for Wigan to make the score 24-16 going into the closing stages.
But Wigan couldn’t shake off the Giants, as Eorl Crabtree scored and Brough goaled to cut the deficit again to two points, before Dom Crosby scored the final try, with Smith converting to make the final score 30-22.
A full report, photos and analysis will feature in Monday’s edition of League Express.
