Giants leapfrog Wolves

Huddersfield have consolidated their chances of a Super League play-off place after scoring a 34-22 victory at Warrington.

With fifth playing sixth at kick-off, exactly the same could be said at the final hooter - albeit with the Giants having leapfrogged the Wolves thanks to the kicking of Chris Thorman.

Both sides scored five tries - indeed Ben Westwood scored a hat-trick for the Wolves - but Thorman's accuracy with the boot when compared to kicking counterpart Lee Briers proved the difference.

With a strong wind initially in their favour, Warrington made a contest of the opening period and the scores were level at 12-12 at half time.

But Huddersfield broke clear in the second period, their stand-out try being an superb solo effort from 'Rocket' Rod Jensen.

To add to Warrington's woes, forward Paul Wood departed the field in the opening period with an arm injury that could rule him out of the rest of the season.

Frenetic start

The home side had the best of a frenetic start, however, with the departing Henry Fa'afili touching down after just three minutes.

An early 40-20 kick from Briers set up the Wolves and, after a Giants knock-on produced a second set of six, Fa'afili went over on the blindside for his 20th of the campaign.

Briers missed the target before Huddersfield responded moments later when, Andy Bracek having knocked on from Thorman's kick off - the wind not working in their favour this time - Ryan Hudson touched down.

Thorman made no mistake but the Wolves bounced back after 10 minutes when, after the pressured Hudson lost possession, Westwood finished a move he started - the back-rower releasing Fa'afili before scoring in the left-hand corner.

Briers was again found wanting with the conversion and, as the ding dong battle continued, both defences held firm.

But there was bad news for the home side on 22 minutes when Wood departed with an upper arm injury - the forward's right shoulder later also revealed to have been dislocated.

Warrington were sound asleep two minutes later when Brad Drew stormed over the line on an angled run, with Thorman again converting to push Huddersfield 12-8 ahead.

The scrum half then missed a 28th minute penalty attempt, with matters swinging once more in favour of the Wolves five minutes before half time.

Kevin Penny was the scorer, the youngster pouncing on Briers' kick to the right-hand corner after Kevin Brown had knocked on 10 yards in front of Huddersfield's line.

Explosive

But Briers again missed, meaning the scores were level at half time. The second period lacked the explosive opening of the first - until Jensen intervened.

He intercepted Mark Gleeson's pass in front of Huddersfield's posts and sprinted a full 100 metres before touching down, with Thorman making it three successful kicks.

Warrington's woes were compounded when Paul Rauhihi was placed on report - adding to Adrian Morley's earlier indiscretion against Jamahl Lolesi - for a spear tackle, with Thorman converting the penalty.

The visitors bagan to pull away when, following a period of deliberation, Lolesi was adjudged to have touched down Drew's kick to the right-hand corner, with Thorman again converting.

Warrington offered the chance of a late fightback when Grose offloaded for Westwood to rumble over for his second, the scorer also taking over Briers' kicking duties - yet producing the same result.

And yet the hopes of home fans were dashed just three minutes later when, with Warrington attempting to work the ball wide, Brown intercepted Briers' pass to touch down and Thorman converted.

Westwood's hat-trick soon followed, but the fact his conversion was Warrington's first summed up their evening.

More chances came the way of the Wolves' - Fa'afili knocking on when in a very promising position on the left-hand flank - with Thorman kicking - whilst simultaneously falling over - a penalty at the death.