Rampant Cats roar back
Wakefield produced a remarkable second-half comeback to beat Harlequins 24-20 in a Super League thriller at Belle Vue.
Last Updated: 27/04/08 3:32pm
Wakefield produced a remarkable second-half comeback to beat Harlequins 24-20 in a Super League thriller at Belle Vue.
Quins are without a win on this ground for six years but looked set to end that run after building up a 20-6 lead and completely dominating the first 40 minutes.
But the Wildcats roared back with 18 unanswered points and a second-half display that could hardly be a bigger contrast with their lacklustre opening stanza.
Wakefield went ahead inside six minutes when a Danny Brough 40-20 set up the attacking position and Ryan Atkins' superb offload on the power play put his skipper Jamie Rooney over.
But the rest of the half belonged almost exclusively to Harlequins.
Within three minutes Danny Orr darted over for his 99th career try after the Wildcats were penalised for not standing square, Rob Purdham's boot levelling up the scores.
Two minutes later Wakefield were penalised again and again it led to a try. Jason Golden failed to roll away and on the final tackle and Scott Hill's neat pass put Matt Gafa in at the corner.
Karl Tamata's burst up the middle and offload to Orr set up the third try, Michael Worrincy on hand to take the final pass.
Sparkling
By now Quins were rampant and after another sparkling move Purdham's offload enabled Rikki Sheriffe to score the fourth try for a 20-6 lead on 21 minutes.
The game could have been over if Worrincy had not harshly had a try ruled out for obstruction before moments later Joe Mbu - less harshly - lost a try for a forward pass.
But Quins were just as dominant in defence and Wakefield never looked like breaching their line despite successive sets deep in the visitors' half.
The first score after the break was always going to be crucial and although Wakefield raised their intensity levels they still came up with too many errors.
The try when it finally arrived just before the hour mark came from a kick, Brough dabbing in a grubber which Rooney did well to finish after an awkward bounce.
Brough added the extras and the Wildcats were back in the contest at 12-20.
A sensational burst from Rooney earned Wakefield a penalty close to the Quins line only for Atkins' try to be struck off for a marginal forward pass.
However it was only a temporary relief for Quins as Brough's chip over the top and good work from Sam Obst and Rooney again set up a try for former London Bronco Tony Martin.
Momentum
Suddenly Wakefield had all the momentum and after a high bomb and a Sheriffe knock-on earned them a second set of six, Obst dummied and darted over from acting half by the posts. Brough knocked over the extras and the Wildcats led for the first time since the 11th minute.
Worse was to follow for Quins as David Howell hit Rooney late as the Wakefield skipper put in a kick, and Brough knocked over a penalty for a 24-20 lead with seven minutes remaining.
Quins did have a late chance to win it but Tevita Leo-Latu came up with a superb try-saving tackle in the corner to sum up the Wildcats' impressive second half turnaround.