Super League leaders Warrington lose at Huddersfield
Last Updated: 16/04/16 10:01am
Super League leaders Warrington suffered a shock 11-0 defeat away to bottom club Huddersfield on Friday night.
Aaron Murphy scored the opening try following a quick offload from Jake Connor.
Danny Brough missed with his conversion attempt but a penalty and a drop-goal from the Giants stand-off stretched the lead to seven points.
Leroy Cudjoe then crossed again 10 minutes from time and despite Brough failing to add the extras over by the touchline, Paul Anderson's side held on for an unlikely victory.
Warrington opted to leave out winger Tom Lineham and they badly missed the kicking game of injured half-back Chris Sandow, allowing far too many handling errors in the wet conditions.
In contrast, Brough's clever tactical kicking ensured Huddersfield were on the front foot for most of the game and Warrington were forced to concede six goal-line drop-outs in the first half alone.
The visitors made the first clear break of the match through hooker Daryl Clark, but full-back Ryan Brierley proved to be a secure last line of defence and they spent most of the first half pinned inside their own half.
As the Giants maintained the pressure, second rower Joe Wardle was held up over the line and left winger Murphy would have scored six minutes from half-time had Rhys Evans not managed to knock down Brierley's pass.
The game's first try came in the same spot, though, with Brough making the initial half-break and centre Jake Connor's one-handed offload getting Murphy in at the corner.
The try was too far out for Brough to convert, but he made it 6-0 with a 40m penalty five minutes into the second half.
Wolves forced a couple of goal-line drop-outs early in the third quarter, but, despite the prompting of Kurt Gidley, generally failed to trouble a well-marshalled defence and the Giants continued to look the more dangerous side.
Huddersfield second rower Oliver Roberts got to the line but was unable to ground the ball, while at the other end Evans caught Gidley's high kick at the corner but was ushered over the dead-ball line and with it went Warrington's last chance of victory.
The influential Brough then slotted over a long-range drop goal on 65 minutes to put his side two scores in front before England centre Cudjoe made sure of the points when he took Wardle's pass to cross for his side's second try.
Brough was off target once more with the conversion attempt, but he had already done enough to clinch the man-of-the-match award by then.
Despite the impressive win, Huddersfield remain bottom of the pile after Leeds defeated Hull in one of the evening's other two Super League matches.