Huddersfield 19-19 Wigan: Nothing between Giants and Warriors

Match stats: Huddersfield 19-19 Wigan

Huddersfield tries: Cudjoe (8), Gaskell (25), McGillvary (64)
Huddersfield conversions: Ridyard (8), Brough (25,64)
Huddersfield drop-goals: Brough (19)

Wigan tries: Bateman (30), Marshall (34,42)
Wigan conversions: Williams (30,35,42)
Wigan drop-goals: Williams (68)

Match report

Wigan winger Liam Marshall claimed a brace to take his season's tally to 22 tries in all competitions but it was not enough to decide a hard-fought 19-19 draw at Huddersfield.

The result follows the 16-16 stalemate in the corresponding match at the DW Stadium on March 19 and leaves both sides still hovering dangerously above the cut-off line with the Betfred Super League splitting into two after four more rounds.

The revitalised Giants remain unbeaten in their last four games, while struggling Wigan are without a win in their last eight league games.

Huddersfield started the better with converted tries from centres Leroy Cudjoe and Lee Gaskell, plus a Danny Brough drop goal, only for the Warriors to respond through touchdowns from John Bateman and Marshall, also both converted, to leave the hosts leading by a point at half-time.

Marshall's second try gave Wigan the lead just after the break but Jermaine McGillvary replied with Brough's conversion edging the Giants in front once more.

George Williams levelled the scores with a long-range drop goal and, despite both sides having their chances to win the game, neither managed another score.

The Giants were without injured full-back Jake Mamo, who had scored 12 tries in his nine games since joining the club, hooker Adam O'Brien and second rower Dale Ferguson

Wigan were missing prop Taulima Tautai and Anthony Gelling from the side which claimed a nerve-jangling Ladbrokes Challenge Cup victory at Warrington last weekend.

The Giants went ahead when Cudjoe took a Ryan Hinchcliffe pass and stepped out of a tackle to score, with Martyn Ridyard, who has just extended his loan from Leigh until the end of the season, adding the extras.

Shannon Wakeman was brilliantly held up as he looked likely to extend the home side's advantage and further pressure was heaped on the Warriors defence by a Brough 40-20.

Brough eventually added an opportune drop goal to create a two-score gap.

Thomas Leuluai then came close at the other end for Wigan and the Giants lost Ridyard to injury.

But it was Huddersfield who increased their lead when Gaskell beat a hesitant Joe Burgess to a Brough grubber and, in Ridyard's absence, the Scottish international half-back converted to make 13-0.

Wigan hit back on the half-hour mark when Bateman crashed onto a Leuluai pass and George Williams added the first of his three conversions.

Marshall then launched an astonishing dive to just beat a deft Williams kick to the dead ball line and the conversion closed the gap to just a point.

The second half was just three minutes old when a sharp cut-out pass from Sam Tomkins had Marshall diving acrobatically over in the corner for his eighth try in the last five games to give the visitors the lead for the first time. Williams then landed his second touchline conversion.

McGillvary roused the home crowd with a dangerous break from halfway and Wigan were forced into some desperate defence.

And it was McGillvary who finally managed to crack the Lancastrians' rearguard for his 13th try of the season with Brough's goal edging the hosts ahead again from the touchline.

Williams landed a 35-metre drop goal to tie matters with 12 minutes remaining and, despite both sides pressing and Leuluai missing a late one-pointer, neither could get their noses in front again.

Match reaction

Giants coach Rick Stone: "I'm probably happy enough in the end. We had a good first 20 or 25 minutes and I thought we gave up that lead too easily through giving away too many penalties.

"There wasn't much in it in the second half. Both sides showed plenty of desperation, desire and willingness to take the points which was good.

"We probably managed the game better than last week but I'm pleased with the confidence we can take out of that to move on in the next couple of weeks."

Wigan coach Shaun Wane: "There were too many penalties and too many errors, we didn't give ourselves a chance to win.

"We still managed to stay in there and get a point and they are a very confident team at the moment. But overall I am not happy.

"We had our chances to win but giving away penalties on play five and dropping the ball on play one gave ourselves too much work and we are not going to get a win doing that."