BY JOHN DAVIDSON
Huddersfield may have delivered a mortal blow to Warrington’s slender Super League semi-final hopes with a hard-fought, come-from-behind 23-10 home win.
The Giants fought back to snatch an eye-catching victory, courtesy of two late George Flanagan Jr tries, to seal an impressive result.
The loss leaves the struggling Wolves in eighth place, four points below seventh-placed Wakefield and five points behind sixth-placed Hull FC with just four games left.
In the 18th minute the Giants were camped on the Wolves’ try-line, after winning a penalty for a high tackle.
In the next set Lachlan Fitzgibbon was helped from the field after receiving an accidental knock to the face, and he went off for a head injury assessment.
Huddersfield were ready to strike and Flanagan Jr showed some fancy footwork on the right wing and put Aidan McGowan over in the corner for the opening try.
Flanagan Jr stepped up to convert the score from the sideline with a brilliant strike, making it 6-0.
However, the fullback soon went from hero to villain after a costly error in his own in-goal area.
Warrington hoofed the ball, Flanagan went to return it but lost the ball as he was being tackled and Connor Wrench pounced for the Wolves’ first score.
Sneyd couldn’t add the extras so the home side remained in the lead.
It got worse for the Giants though, giving up an offside penalty after the kick-off and then a cheap try to Warrington.
Sam Burgess’ men spun the ball wide and Matt Dufty found space, with Toby King stepping back inside to touch down.
Sneyd didn’t miss this time, making it 10-6 to the Wire.
The Wolves went close to a third try with six minutes left in the half, but Jake Thewlis knocked on George Williams’ wayward offload.
Right on half-time Sneyd attempted a long-range drop-goal, but his kick sailed wide.
Huddersfield needed a strong start and they were presented a gift when the visitors knocked on 10 metres from their own line three minutes into the second half.
But sloppy handling and forced passes saw them give up possession easily.
The two teams continued to trade errors, with neither being able to keep the ball for long periods.
Back-to-back penalties for the Giants helped them get into Warrington’s 20-metre zone.
They forced a goal-line drop-out but dropped the ball in the next set to continue their malaise.
However, with 15 minutes left the game was turned on its head when Jacob Gagai dived on Oliver Russell’s grubber kick.
That tied it up at 10-10, but Flanagan missed the conversion and the chance to put the home team two points ahead.
As the clock ticked down, a mistake at the play-ball handed Huddersfield the opportunity to grab the win.
And they did just that, Gagai’s inside pass finding Flanagan Jr who brilliantly scrambled his way over the line for the winner.
The fullback added the extras and then Russell added a drop-goal, before the final drama – Flanagan Jr crossing again to wrap it up.