McGillvary helps Giants climb to top of tree

Huddersfield 29 Warrington 1

Just a fortnight ago, people were seriously questioning whether there was any side capable of beating Warrington this season, so convincingly were they playing. Now they have lost twice in a week.

Huddersfield moved two points clear at the top of Super League with a display that showed they can win the big games against the top clubs, but for the second match running the Wolves were miles away from their scintillating best.

"Two weeks ago we were in fantastic form, but the last two weeks we've been very poor," said a puzzled Warrington coach, Tony Smith. "We're having a dip in form."

Huddersfield's Nathan Brown paid tribute to Australian forward Luke O'Donnell calling him "the buy of the season". "It's good to be top of Super League," Brown added, "but the best teams get there and stay there."

It was first blood to the Giants through Leroy Cudjoe's break and perfectly timed pass to Jermaine McGillvary. The resourceful winger kicked ahead and a kind bounce put the ball straight into the arms of Brett Hodgson's successor as Huddersfield full-back, Scott Grix.

Hodgson brought the scores level by latching on to Joel Monaghan's tumbling one-handed pass after Chris Bridge had kicked across the field.

Hodgson was then forced over his own try-line to set up the position from which Luke Robinson sent Larne Patrick roaring through a gap for the second Giants' try. When Grix's run put them on the attack again, Robinson sneaked over from dummy half to put the home side in control.

Hodgson responded with a try but Warrington's attempts to get back into contention were sabotaged by naïve handling errors. Their lack of discipline on the night showed again in Ben Westwood's high shot on Andy Raleigh, although this time Huddersfield were content to run the ball and eat up the clock. They capped a dominant second half with a picture-book try from the outstanding McGillvary, released by Kevin Brown's pass.

Huddersfield: Grix; McGillvary, Cudjoe, Lawrence, Simpson; Brown, Brough; Crabtree, Robinson, Raleigh, Gilmour, Ferguson, O'Donnell.

Substitutes used: Lunt, Faiumu, Patrick, Kirmond.

Warrington: Hodgson; J.Monaghan, Blythe, Atkins, Evans; Bridge, Myler; Morley, M.Monaghan, Carvell, Anderson, Westwood, Harrison.

Substitutes used: Clarke, Wood, Cooper, Solomona.

Referee: R Silverwood (Mirfield).