Huddersfield (20) 30
Tries: Cudjoe, D Hodgson 3, Whaturia, Crabtree
Goals: B Hodgson 3
Wigan (18) 38
Tries: J Tomkins 2, Carmont, Goulding 2, Coley
Goals: Richards 7
 Richards has now kicked 61 goals, as well as running in 15 tries this season |
Par Richards maintained his standing as Super League's points scorer to help Wigan go four points clear at the top. Giants winger David Hodgson ran in a hat-trick for Huddersfield, who matched Wigan's six-try haul. But Richards' boot was the difference between the two sides, the Aussie full-back kicking two penalties as well as nailing five of his six conversions. Joel Tomkins and Darrell Goulding both scored twice for Wigan, who also scored through George Carmont and Andy Coley. Wigan's win, coupled with Warrington's Friday night defeat at Leeds and St Helens' surprise slip-up at Salford, takes them four points clear at the top. Hodgson's fourth hat-trick of the season was enough to take him clear of the prolific Richards as Super League's top try scorer on 16. But, although a considerable improvement on last weekend's Challenge Cup humiliation against Warrington, it was not enough to prevent Huddersfield going down to a third straight defeat.  | 606: DEBATE |
It also completed a quickfire double for Wigan over the Giants following the Warriors' 28-10 victory at Murrayfield a fortnight ago. The match was played out under the backdrop of controversial comments from outspoken Giants coach Nathan Brown, who reacted angrily to a late tackle that day by Wigan skipper Sean O'Loughlin on Luke Robinson, suggesting that his players might have to start taking the law into their own hands. And tempers were never far from reaching boiling point, with O'Loughlin tactfully withdrawn from the action at one point, although the only sin-binnings were for technical offences, both by Wigan players. Second row Tomkins paid the price for a series of play-the-ball infringements on 23 minutes, while prop Coley was shown a yellow card for a professional foul on 52 minutes, the Giants each time cashing in by scoring against 12 men. Also, home prop Keith Mason, one of two players named by Brown as a potential vigilante, was placed on report by referee Richard Silverwood for a late tackle on Wigan scrum-half Thomas Leuluai midway through the first half. Huddersfield got off to the worst possible start when Danny Brough's kick-off went dead, gifting their visitors a perfect attacking position from which they opened the scoring through Tomkins. But, despite Carmont also crossing for a try, Brett Hodgson was inspirational as the Giants struck back to take a 20-12 lead. The full-back produced cut-out passes to get in both wingers, Leroy Cudjoe and namesake David, for tries before combining with Brough for Paul Whatuira to score in a sweeping move. The Giants were good value for their lead but the game went away from them in a 12-minute spell either side of half-time. Winger Goulding grabbed his 13th try of the season just before the break, courtesy of a flicked pass from Joel Tomkins, who brushed off the challenge of Whatuira to touch down for his second of the match four minutes after the re-start. When Coley forced his way over for a close-range try on 48 minutes and Richards kicked his fifth goal to make it 30-20, there was a danger of the Giants once more collapsing. But Coley became the second Wigan player sin-binned after holding down Brough and England prop Eorl Crabtree forced his way through on the hour. The scores were level four minutes later when Brough sent Hodgson over for his third try. But Brett Hodgson was crucially off target for the third time. And Wigan regained the lead when Richards and 19-year-old Stefan Marsh, in the side after Great Britain centre Martin Gleeson was left out for disciplinary reasons, sent Goulding over for his second try. Huddersfield had what would have been an equalising try from Andy Raleigh disallowed for a double movement and Richards finally made sure of victory with a last-minute penalty.
Wigan coach Michael Maguire:
"We got ourselves in a tough position at times throughout that game but they kept working hard for each other and we were lucky enough to come out the right end.
"When we had the ball we knew we had to complete and get down the other end because the other team are quality. "Every time we got down into their area, we came up with some points so it was pleasing from that point of view but we've got to make sure we don't put ourselves in that position too often." Huddersfield coach Nathan Brown:
"I think both coaches weren't rapt with their defences but both sides played some good attacking football. "Defence hasn't been an issue for us for 18 months. Obviously when we get it right we do pretty well but the last two weeks we've been exposed pretty badly in some areas. "We've just got to work hard and I'm sure we'll rediscover what we need to rediscover and we'll improve."
Huddersfield Giants: B Hodgson, Cudjoe, Lolesi, Whaturia, D Hodgson, Brown, Brough, Crabtree, Robinson, Mason, Gilmour, Wild, Faiumu.
Replacements: Lunt, Raleigh, Aspinwall, D Griffin. Wigan Warriors: Richards, Goulding, Marsh, Carmont, Pryce, S Tomkins, Leuluai, Fielden, McIlorum, Coley, Bailey, J Tomkins, O'Loughlin.
Replacements: Riddell, Prescott, O'Carroll, Mossop. Referee: Richard Silverwood (Dewsbury). Attendance: 8,390
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