Warrington's play-off hopes hit by loss at Giants

Betfred Super League

Huddersfield (6) 23

Tries: McGowan, Gagai, Flanagan 2 Goals: Flanagan 3 Drop-goal: Russell

Warrington (10) 10

Tries: Wrench, King Goal: Sneyd

Warrington Wolves' Super League play-off hopes suffered a potentially fatal blow as they were beaten 23-10 at Huddersfield Giants.

It was a game full of twists and turns, with Huddersfield taking the lead through Aidan McGowan's try.

Connor Wrench and Toby King put Warrington 10-6 in front at half-time.

But Jacob Gagai and a George Flanagan double, plus an Oliver Russell drop-goal, secured victory for the home side.

Defeat leaves Warrington five points behind sixth-placed Hull FC, in the final play-off spot, with only four games of the regular season remaining.

Despite being put under early pressure, the Giants went in front when McGowan crossed in the corner.

The video referee overturned an initial no try decision, judging the ball to have been grounded fairly after great work by Flanagan, who converted from a difficult angle.

Warrington hit back moments later when Flanagan lost the ball to Wrench on the line after Mark Sneyd's forward kick. The video referee confirmed the decision, before Sneyd failed to convert from close range.

The game turned on its head when Matt Dufty, back in the Wolves side after a disciplinary issue, fed King to score in a fifth successive game against Huddersfield, with Sneyd adding the extras.

Warrington were forced back by the hosts early in the second half, but they were steadfast in defence. Wrench did brilliantly to cut out Russell's searching kick on the line as Gagai lurked with intent.

The same combination finally worked 15 minutes from time, with Gagai crossing for his 10th try of the season after some brilliant improvisation. Flanagan missed his kick and with that the chance to take the lead.

But that miss only fuelled the Giants' desire. They sensed an opportunity and took it when Gagai fed Flanagan, who drove over the line before converting his own try.

Any Warrington resistance was broken by the time Russell kicked a drop-goal and Flanagan rounded the day off with another converted try.

Huddersfield: Flanagan, McGowan, Gagai, Bibby, Halsall, Rush, Russell, Rogers, Woolford, Powell, Rushton, Greenwood, Cudjoe

Interchanges: Golding, English, Wilson, Burgess

Warrington: Dufty, Jake Thewis, Wrench, King, Josh Thewis, Williams, Sneyd, Yates, Walker, Matterson, Stone, Fitzgibbon. Currie

Interchanges: Thomas, Powell, Holroyd, Harrison

Referee: Aaron Moore.