HUDDERSFIELD Giants ran in five unanswered tries in the final 20 minutes to brush aside Warrington Wolves 32-10 in the BetFred Women’s Super League.
Warrington had looked to have taken control just before the devastating spell when second-rower Emily Baggaley crashed over for the home team to make it 10-6 on 50 minutes.
But that was the cue for Giants’ half back pairing of Francesca Townend and Sam Hulme – who had been a thorn in the Wire’s side for most of the afternoon – to finally take control of the game and take it away from the Wolves.
And they were ably supported by centre Molly Iceton who had been solid in defence and under the high kicks all game and ran in two tries of her own.
An injury to second rower Sammi Simpson – arguably Warrington’s most consistent player in defence and attack all season – just after the interval didn’t help the cause of the home side, who were already without a number of first team regulars through injury and unavailability.
The game had started well for the Wolves, with half-back Charlize Magraw settling well at full-back and Emily Downes and Emily Latchford putting Wire on the front foot with some powerful runs.
Ellie Jelves, starting at hooker for the first time this season, also made some good scampering runs from half back in the first few minutes, putting the Wire within striking range.
And when the Giants failed to deal effectively with a kick through by Magraw, the ball went through hands to send in Simpson on the right to give Wire a 4-0 lead in the ninth minute.
Wire failed to capitalise on their great start – a pattern which has dogged them all season – and, after a mistake-ridden 10-minute spell, Giants grew into the game and got their noses ahead when Lois Nadole cruised down the wing evading despairing tackles from Abi Johnstone and Albany Coates to touch down in the corner, with Ellie Thompson effortlessly stroking the conversion home.
With Townend taking control of the midfield, Giants’ could have extended their lead but for some fantastic defence from Magraw and Simpson in particular to keep Wire in it at half time.
The Giants started the second half as they finished the first with ex-Wire player Kacy Hayley in particular making strong inroads into the home defence and it was against the run of play when Baggaley went over to give the easiest of conversions to Magraw to give the Wire hope of a morale-boosting win.
But, with Simpson on her way to hospital with a suspected broken hand, the Giants slowly began to take advantage of her absence and assert control, scoring two tries in the space of five minutes – the first from winger Amelia Brown after a scything run from Hayley to make it 10-10 and then Iceton finishing off a superb move across the try line for the visitors to go 16-10 ahead.
Just minutes later, a kick through by Hulme was kicked dead by winger Lauren Ellison, but Townend capitalised on the drop-out to run the ball close to the posts before the ball was worked out to Nadole to score her second. Thompson’s conversion made it 22-10.
Hulme asserted her growing influence on the game with 10 minutes to go to exploit the Wire’s left-hand defence and then send Iceton in for her second of the afternoon.
Victory was sealed for the Giants when they capitalised on a number of desperate Wire errors and Hulme provided an inch perfect kick for Brown to catch on the full to complete her brace and seal a 32-10 victory.
Warrington:
7 Charlize Magraw
2 Abigail Johnston
33 Albany Coates
12 Samantha Simpson
21 Lauren Ellison
6 Millie Bell
17 Louise Fellingham
8 Abigail Latchford
26 Ellie Jelves
10 Grace Burnett
11 Katie May Williams
35 Emily Baggaley
13 Emily Downes
Subs
14 Jasmine Wilson
20 Helena Turner
16 Megan Condliffe
34 Lucy Johnson
18th player: 5 Rebecca NixonHuddersfield Giants:
1. Amy Bennett
31 Mollie Iceton
3. Ana Da Silva
4. Lois Nadole
5 Amelia Brown
6. Francesca Townend
7 Samantha Hulme
11. Jessica Harrap
9. Bethan Oates
16 Emma Wilkinson
13 Katy Fisher
12 Kacy Hayley
24.Ellie Thompson
Subs:
8. Paige Webster
20. Georgia Hampshaw
17. Megan Preston
25. Chloe Fairbank
18th player 26. Ruby Tyson
