Danny Walker inspires Warrington Wolves to opening win at Huddersfield Giants

HUDDERSFIELD GIANTS 12 WARRINGTON WOLVES 20
JACOB KILBRIDE, John Smith’s Stadium, Sunday

AFTER an opening weekend of upsets in Super League, Warrington ensured they were no victims of a shock result with a hard-fought victory at Huddersfield.

Tui Lolohea put Huddersfield ahead on the back of his own bomb before Warrington responded through Arron Lindop and Matty Ashton scores either side of half-time.

The Wolves appeared set for a comfortable finish when Toby King went over on the hour but Joe Greenwood’s reply left the hosts behind by just two points heading into the last dozen minutes.

Warrington held their nerve however and Matt Dufty’s decisive fourth try in the final minutes wrapped up the two points and denied a determined Huddersfield.

Even after season-opening Challenge Cup victories over lower-tier opposition last weekend, both sides made patchy starts, particularly in attack through the first quarter.

The deadlock was eventually broken when Dufty performed the cardinal sin of allowing the ball to bounce from Lolohea’s bomb.

Greenwood picked up the loose ball and his hopeful kick ahead won a repeat set before a classy, wide raking pass from Super League debutant Zac Woolford sent Lolohea swan-diving over.

Danny Richardson – on his first outing for Huddersfield on loan from Hull KR – added the extras.

Warrington began to turn the screw thereafter in defence, forcing Richardson to kick deeper and deeper before beginning to force errors.

Moments before half-time, George Williams skipped across the line before feinting a drop-off pass which opened up room for Lindop to drive over in the right corner.

Stefan Ratchford was wide from touchline to ensure Huddersfield remained in front 6-4 at the break, though it was not a lead that lasted much longer.

The Giants allowed a Williams high kick to bounce before Jacob Gagai found himself bundled over the touchline by Josh Thewlis.

From there, the Wire sent the ball to the left edge and Dufty’s cut-out pass put Ashton over. Ratchford did the rest from the tee.

Another costly error from Gagai allowed the visitors to establish a crucial two-lead. Coming deep out of yardage, Danny Walker produced a timely 20/40 kick, aided by the Giants fullback’s inability to read the play.

With the field position set, some great hands out to the left saw King finish Dufty’s short pass.

At that stage, Ratchford’s missed conversion appeared immaterial but, with twelve minutes to go, suddenly Huddersfield were back in the contest.

On the back of just their second penalty, Greenwood cut through Dufty and Ben Currie from Woolford’s dummy-half pass and a Richardson goal later left Warrington leading by just two.

Composed game management was required and while Williams kicked smartly to corners, Richardson punted the ball out of the full to set up the game-clinching score.

Adding to his two assists, Dufty kicked ahead and dived on the loose ball, having spotted opposite number-one Gagai joining the defensive line.

A Thewlis goal re-established the two-score cushion and proved the final nail in the coffin.

GAMESTAR: Danny Walker produced a tremendous 65-minute stint at hooker, picking off the Giants with deceptive runs out of dummy-half.

GAMEBREAKER: Danny Richardson’s kick out on the full late on set the position for Matt Dufty’s kick-and-chase fourth try.

HIGHLIGHT REEL: Seemingly under pressure and pinned deep their own territory, Danny Walker’s 20/40 effort was a thing of beauty.

ALBERT GOLDTHORPE POINTS
3 pts Danny Walker (Warrington)
2 pts Matty Ashton (Warrington)
1 pt Matt Dufty (Warrington)

MATCHFACTS
GIANTS
1 Jacob Gagai
2 Adam Swift
12 Sam Hewitt
3 Jake Bibby
20 Elliot Wallis
6 Tui Lolohea
22 Danny Richardson (D)
8 Oliver Wilson
9 Zac Woolford
10 Tom Burgess
11 Jack Murchie
17 Joe Greenwood
21 Leroy Cudjoe
Subs (all used)
13 Harry Rushton
14 Ashton Golding
15 Matty English
18 Fenton Rogers
18th man (not used)
18 Jack Bibby
Also in 21-man squad
25 Jack Billington
27 Connor Carr
29 George Flanagan

Tries: Lolohea (25), Greenwood (68)
Goals: Richardson 2/2

WOLVES
1 Matt Dufty
2 Josh Thewlis
33 Arron Lindop
3 Toby King
5 Matty Ashton
6 George Williams
19 Stefan Ratchford
10 Paul Vaughan
9 Danny Walker
13 Luke Yates
21 Adam Holroyd
26 Dan Russell
11 Ben Currie
Subs (all used)
14 Sam Powell
15 Joe Philbin
16 Zane Musgrove
17 Jordy Crowther
18th man (not used)
23 Cai Taylor-Wray
Also in 21-man squad
4 Rodrick Tai
8 James Harrison
18 Oli Leyland