Walmsley scores double as Wakefield edge out Giants

Betfred Super League

Huddersfield (4) 16

Tries: Halsall, Flanagan 2 Goals: Flanagan 2

Wakefield (8) 18

Wakefield Trinity got their Super League season up and running as two tries from Lachlan Walmsley gave them a breathless 18-16 victory at Huddersfield Giants.

After their opening-day defeat at home to Toulouse, Trinity came good on the road, holding on in a thrilling second half for a hard-earned win.

The key moment was Walmsley’s interception for his second try, which opened up a gap Huddersfield were just unable to claw back despite two late tries from George Flanagan.

Centre Cam Scott opened the scoring with a 13th-minute try for Wakefield as their expansive intent got its rewards with Daryl Powell’s side offloading at every opportunity.

But a terrific finish in the corner from Huddersfield winger Sam Halsall in the 24th minute brought the home side level.

However, a beautifully constructed try from Walmsley eight minutes before the break gave Wakefield a half-time lead.

Tom Burgess was held up over the line as Huddersfield came out firing at the start of the second half.

Wakefield went close too with Matty Storton also held up over the line after a nice tip-on by Jazz Tevaga.

But a huge play from Walmsley in the 55th minute allowed the visitors to extend their lead. The Scotland winger intercepted a pass and caught the ball off his foot before it hit the ground to race in unopposed. The video referee took a long look at the handling but ruled the try was good.

When Jake Trueman put Kiwi back-row Seth Nikotemo in for Wakefield’s fourth try just after the hour it looked like they were in the clear.

However, two tries in rapid succession from Flanagan pulled them right back into the contest.

Huddersfield Giants head coach Luke Robinson told BBC Radio Leeds:

“It was a weird one because I don’t think Lachlan thought he’d scored it, but the video ref must have seen conclusively that it was a try.

“We started a little bit slowly but the longer the game went on I thought we really grew into it. It was admirable the way the boys fought.

“I felt like we were all over them in the second half, and it felt like at some point we were going to score again.

“We probably just weren’t clinical in certain areas. We sort of forced it, so it was a bit naive on our part, but I was really proud of the effort.

“It was heartbreaking really. I’m down in the dumps we haven’t won – and the manner of the loss as well – but at the same time it’s only round two and we are still missing a lot of key players.

Wakefield Trinity head coach Daryl Powell told BBC Radio Leeds:

“I thought Lachlan had dropped it at first, I couldn’t see, but he clearly gets his foot on the ball, so it’s a smart bit of instinct play from him. Those sorts of instinct things are what he’s really good at.

“There was a little bit of luck – you need that at times. I don’t think we had a lot last week, so it was handy to have some today.

“I thought we looked nervous last week, probably around expectations, around what we are and what we did last year, and I thought we were nervous today again – especially around that tight period towards the end.

“We’ve got the monkey off our back with our first win of the season and can probably relax a bit now.

Huddersfield: Flanagan; Carr, Gagai, Milne, Halsall; Lolohea, Russell; Patolo, Woolford, Rogers, O’Donnell, Hewitt, Powell.

Interchanges: Burgess, King, Rush, Cozza.

Wakefield: Jowitt; Pratt, Scott, Hall, Walmsley; Trueman, Sinfield; McMeeken, Smoothy, Hamlin-Uele, Nikotemo, Vagana, Pitts.

Interchanges: Rodwell, Storton, Tevaga, Smith.