Wigan 16-16 Huddersfield: Spoils shared at DW Stadium

Match stats

Wigan tries: Escare (12), Davies (28), Gelling (48)
Wigan conversions/penalties: Escare (12,74)

Huddersfield tries: Gaskell (4), McIntosh (19)
Huddersfield conversions/penalties: Brough (4, 19, 35, 56)  

Match report

Huddersfield bounced back from their drubbing at Leigh by taking a point from Wigan as they battled to a 16-16 draw in the Betfred Super League.

The Giants led 14-10 at the break with both teams crossing for two tries apiece, the first coming from nothing for Huddersfield with Lee Gaskell (pictured) going over from a metre out after Jermaine McGillvary was hauled down following a 95-yard interception.

Morgan Escare and Gaskell then traded four pointers, before Tom Davies crossed on his debut to put Wigan within two points. Danny Brough then ensured the lead was four at the interval.

The Warriors scored the only try of the second half through Anthony Gelling, but no one could produce that one piece of magic to clinch the win.

It took Huddersfield three minutes to open the scoring and it came on the back of a threatening Wigan attack.

The Warriors attacked down the left and, when Sean O'Loughlin's long looping ball was picked out of the air by McGillvary, the winger raced 95 metres only to be thwarted by a great tackle from Gelling.

From the play-the-ball, Gaskell dived over with Brough tagging on the extras for a 6-0 lead.

A shoulder charge from Ben Flower gave Brough the opportunity to extend their lead to eight, but he struck his kick against the upright.

Wigan took full advantage of that let-off by levelling matters moments later when Thomas Leuluai fed Joel Tomkins, who sent a sublime ball back inside for Escare to race over. The Frenchman converted to make it 6-6.

Huddersfield were starting to attack down Wigan's left, and Brough and Gaskell combined superbly to send Darnell McIntosh crashing over for their second try, which Brough converted.

Heading into the final 10 minutes of the half, the Warriors reduced the gap to just two points with debutant Davies showing his acrobatic skills to touch down in the corner following another good ball from Tomkins.

Huddersfield ended the half the strongest with Oliver Roberts going close, while Brough made sure they had a four-point advantage going into the break as he slotted over a penalty.

Following the restart, Wigan managed to level matters as Escare fed Gelling, who touched down.

A great run from Gaskell put the Giants in a good attacking position, but all they came away with was another set as Liam Marshall took Brough's kick in-goal for a dropout. 

They soon received a penalty for not being square at the marker and Brough did not hesitate in kicking for goal.

The Giants were reduced to 12 men in the 66th minute when Kruise Leeming was sent to the sin bin for a high shot on Davies.

A strong run from Marshall put Wigan on the front foot, but a poor decision on the last from George Williams saw them blow another chance.

With seven minutes remaining the Warriors received a penalty in front and Escare made no mistake in slotting it over to level the scores at 16-16.

A knock-on from the restart gifted Huddersfield their fifth dropout of the game and, in attempting to seal the game with a try, they blew a golden opportunity with Sam Rapira dropping a pass from Brough when it looked like the stand-off was going to drop a goal.

Leeming seemed to make up for his earlier yellow card as he put in a strong tackle on Escare that saw the full-back spill the ball in his own 20.

That allowed Huddersfield one last chance to win the game - but they blew it as Brough rushed his drop-goal attempt.

Match reaction

Wigan coach Shaun Wane on getting a point: " "It doesn't feel like a defeat. Credit to them, they came with a game plan and the game was played at the pace they wanted."We were off, it was a flat game and we didn't do much to get ourselves out of it.

"Coupled with the loss of personnel I am happy for the draw. Wells rolled his ankle and Lockers (O'Loughlin has a pull in his calf). We had to reshuffle. We have been good this year so I'm not going to ride them too hard for this."

On Liam Farrell's injury: "He (Farrell) has a pull in his calf as well. He trained with England on Monday and that was it, he pulled it there. He never trained with us and he's now out for three weeks."

Coach Rick Stone felt it was a missed opportunity for the Giants: "Wigan were there for the taking today with injuries and they weren't at their best.

"We attacked a bit better. We challenged Wigan a bit more offensively. A point against the current champions you would definitely call that a pass mark.

"There was a good opportunity to take the full two points, we have got to learn to manage that better."  

Stone was also quick to pour cold water on newspaper reports that Danny Brough - who contributed eight points against Wigan with four successful kicks - was playing his final game for the club following claims of a bust-up.

Huddersfield managing director Richard Thewlis said in a statement that the club have sought legal advice following the newspaper report.

"I have seen the press article that has caused such understandable concern with our support base," Thewlis said.

"It is without any substance. However, given the damaging nature of the article, we have no choice but to pass the matter to our lawyers."