Giants stride into play-offs

Huddersfield beat Wakefield 24-22 to claim a place in the Super League play-offs for the first time.

The Giants trailed by 10 points early in the second half but roared back to secure their fourth win of the season over their Yorkshire neighbours.

Wakefield's play-off hopes are not over but they will need results to go their way on the final weekend of the regular season to finish in the top six.

The Wildcats raced out of the blocks and took a fifth-minute lead when Paul White sprinted 90 metres after intercepting a pass close to his own line.

Jamie Rooney tagged on the extras and added a further two points moments later after Jamahl Lolesi was penalised for an illegal grapple tackle.

Brilliant

The Giants got on the board after 18 minutes when Kevin Brown's brilliant cut-out pass put Wakefield-bound Paul Reilly over in the corner.

Huddersfield were beginning to find some momentum and went ahead for the first time on the half-hour mark with a fine finish from Lolesi.

But there was still another twist in a fascinating opening stanza as Jason Demetriou scored two late tries, the first with a neat dummy to beat Chris Thorman and the second coming from close range from Paul March's short pass.

Rooney kicked a 42-metre penalty to stretch the Wildcats' lead to 10 points early in the second half but the final half hour belonged to the hosts.

Penalties

Two Wakefield penalties in as many minutes set up Lolesi for his second try and Stephen Wild for his first, as the Giants took the lead by two points.

The Wildcats could have snatched a late winner but Thorman denied Rooney in the in-goal area as he narrowly made it first to March's chip kick.

It was a nervy final 10 minutes for the Giants but they survived intact and now head for the play-offs after 10 seasons of trying to get to the promised land.

The Giants' sixth win from their last seven matches completes a remarkable transformation in their season. Jon Sharp's side were firm relegation favourites back in April after losing their opening seven games.