Huddersfield Giants beat Widnes 24-12 to claim first Super League win of season
Last Updated: 12/03/15 4:41pm
Centre Joe Wardle scored two second half tries for Huddersfield as they claimed their first Super League win of the season in a 24-12 victory over Widnes.
Joe Mellor opened the scoring for Widnes but his converted score was cancelled out by Scott Grix just before the half-hour mark.
Jermaine McGillvary added the Giants' second try in the opening stages of the second period before Wardle's brace, with Eorl Crabtree completing the scoring in the 73rd minute.
Manase Manuokafoa's 65th minute try, converted by Danny Tickle, saw the Vikings rally briefly but it proved too little too late for Denis Betts' side.
Mellor opened the scoring when he slipped past the Huddersfield defence on nine minutes and broke clear to complete the final 20m run to the line unchallenged.
Danny Brough helped Huddersfield to get back on track as his kick-through on 29 minutes bounced off Manuokafoa and into the hands of Grix near the tryline.
Full-back Grix, making his first appearance of the season after shoulder surgery, made no mistake as he dabbed down.
Brough duly levelled matters at 6-6 with a conversion and Huddersfield began to crank up the pressure.
Aaron Murphy had seen a try ruled out earlier for a forward pass while ex-Giants skipper Kevin Brown had to pull up Jamie Ellis on the tryline to prevent him from crossing.
Winger McGillvary made the breakthrough on 46 minutes though, when he picked up a loose ball and raced for the line.
Brough, who has scored in all 14 career appearances against Widnes, missed the conversion to leave the game finely balanced.
But Wardle's double and a late effort from Crabtree, from Brough's pass, earned Huddersfield the points.
