The only pointless side left in the competition, the Huddersfield Giants, made their way across to the DW Stadium to take on the side now residing in tenth spot thanks to their successful appeal against a pre-season points deduction.
Cherry & Whites coach Adrian Lam made a number of changes to the side who lost in London last weekend, including dropping several senior players who he felt had not performed, in the hope of picking up a crucial two points. But the Giants also knew that a win was vital to avoid them being cut adrift at the bottom of the fledgling table.
It was a true early season four pointer as both sides looked for some form.
After dominating the opening ten minutes the Giants took the lead on eleven when a nice flowing move downfield saw Kruse Leeming over by the uprights. Lee Gaskell added the two for a 6-0 lead.
As the half wore on Wigan did get some ball in the Giants half but silly mistakes and some strong Giants defence kept them at bay. Despite the Giants forcing multiple goal-line dropouts by Wigan the Warriors defence stood firm and kept the visitors out until the interval but they were lucky to be going into the break trailing by just six points after Gaskell missed an attempted drop goal in the last minute.
An improved Wigan took the game to the Giants early in the second half and on fifty-two a pinpoint kick through from Thomas Leului, early in the tackle count, saw Morgan Escare collect the ball and walk over the line to score behind the sticks. Zak Hardaker added a simple conversion to tie the scores.
When Taulima Tautai appeared to kick out in the tackle on Ukuma Ta’ai, the Wigan forward was shown the yellow card and Lee Gaskell took the opportunity to kick a thirty metre penalty on fifty-nine minutes to regain the lead.
On sixty-four Joe Wardle crashed over the Wigan line off an Adam O’Brien short pass from just five metres for the Giants second of the night and when Gaskell added the conversion Huddersfield had an eight point cushion.
Heroic Giants defence kept Wigan at bay, Chris Hankinson denied a try for a double movement with two minutes left on the clock, until the final hooter for a famous and crucial win to secure their two points of the season and draw level on ladder points with the Rhinos and Warriors.
This was a terrific defensive effort from the Huddersfield Giants and they were the deserved victors against a Wigan side who are a poor shadow of their 2018 selves. Both sides remain at the foot of the table and know that they have a lot of work to do over the coming season but it is a small chink of light for a Huddersfield side who have had a joyous 2019 so far.
Warriors: Hardaker (G), Manfredi, Hankinson, Gildart, Marshall, Williams, Leuluai, Clubb, Powell, Flower, Isa, Paisley, O’Loughlin. Subs: Escare (T), Tautai (SB on 58), Hamlin, Bullock.
Giants: McIntosh, McGillvary, Turner, Wardle Jake, Uate, Gaskell (3G), Frawley, Ikahihifo, Leeming (T), Ta’ai, Wardle Joe (T), Mellor, Murphy. Subs: O’Brien, Roberts, Matagi, Lawrence.
Referee: Rob Hicks.
Half-Time: 0-6.
Full-Time: 6-14.
Attendance: 10,114.
