Super League: Warrington Wolves bite back to beat Huddersfield Giants
Warrington came from 14-4 down at half-time to ease to a 10th straight win over Huddersfield, the Wolves winning 33-14.
Last Updated: 30/03/14 6:01pm
The visitors, magnificently led by skipper Ben Westwood, dominated the second half, with full-back Matty Russell marking his first start for the club with his first try.
The result was tough on Giants prop Eorl Crabtree, who led the team out on his 350th appearance and did as much as anyone to lay a winning platform.
Crabtree fittingly got the ball rolling by helping create the game's first try.
His pass got second rower Ukuma Ta'ai charging through a gap in the visitors' defence and full-back Scott Grix was in support to touch down.
Grix reached the line a second time only to be held up and, when he was obstructed chasing Danny Brough's kick, it brought a penalty which the Huddersfield captain kicked to stretch the lead to 8-0.
The Wolves gradually worked their way into the game and took advantage of a knock-on by Huddersfield scrum-half Luke Robinson near his own line to score their first try, centre Rhys Evans taking Richie Myler's pass to dummy his way over for his fourth try of the season on only his second appearance.
Huddersfield looked to have control of the match after scoring again against the run of play four minutes before half-time.
They allowed the ball to bounce from Myler's high kick and prop Chris Hill regained possession for his side.
However, he palmed the ball back into the grateful arms of Brough, who raced 60 metres upfield before sending the supporting Jodie Broughton over for the Giants' second try.
Leading 14-4 at the break, Broughton almost got a second within three minutes of the re-start after being put clear by Brett Ferres but Russell, an impressive last line of defence, hauled him down just short of the line.
Let-off
The visitors made most of the let-off, taking play to the other end of the field with the aid of a penalty and Myler went through a gap in the Huddersfield defence for his side's second try.
Stefan Ratchford's first goal cut the Yorkshiremen's lead to four points and spurred Warrington to produce their best rugby of the match with the aid of five consecutive penalties.
The pressure eventually paid off on 63 minutes when Westwood tore through the Giants defence for a well-deserved try which brought his side level.
Ratchford was unable to add the goal but Huddersfield struggled to get out of their own half and, at that staged would have settled for a third successive home draw.
However, Ta'ai tried to get out an impossible pass on only the second tackle to put his side back under the cosh.
And it was no surprise when the Wolves went in front for the first time on 70 minutes, Russell supporting a break by hooker Micky Higham to touch down.
Ratchford then put his side two scores in front with a drop goal and Warrington made sure of victory when winger Gene Ormsby took Myler's long pass to score a fifth try.
The home side were in total disarray by then and Warrington punished them once more when winger Joel Monaghan went over for a third try in the final quarter, with Chris Bridge kicking three goals from as many attempts after taking over the job from Ratchford.