Huddersfield Giants 28-18 Widnes Vikings
Jacob Wardle scored two tries on his Betfred Super League debut as Huddersfield Giants beat Widnes Vikings 28-18 in interim head coach Chris Thorman’s last game in charge.
Incoming boss Simon Woolford, who will arrive at the John Smith’s Stadium on Thursday will have enjoyeed the display of 19-year-old Wardle, who scored two of the hosts’ five tries.
Huddersfield Giants
He gathered Jordan Rankin’s high kick to score the opening try, before Danny Craven’s try and Tom Gilmore’s first of three goals gave Widnes a 6-4 lead.
But it was the Giants who led at the break as Sam Wood touched down in the corner and added the extras.
Huddersfield extended their advantage in the second half as Wardle was found by another high kick, this time from fellow Super League debutant Oliver Russell.
Ryan Ince and Ukuma Ta’ai traded tries to keep the gap at 10 points before Wardle was yellow-carded for a dangerous tackle on Rhys Hanbury.
Soon after Gilmore crossed and added the goal but Huddersfield’s 12 men responded, with Alex Mellor’s try and Wood’s fourth goal securing victory.
Thorman was delighted with Wardle’s display, saying: “He’s going to be some player.
“He scored a couple of good tries, he showed some really nice touches and was a little unfortunate to get sin-binned at the end.
“But I wasn’t in the least bit surprised with the way he went. He really does have the ability to do whatever he wants.”
Widnes boss Denis Betts said: “There’s no excuse for the level of ineptitude we saw from our players out there.
“We were just dumb and there was no guile out there at all. Anxiety got the better of us, and Huddersfield thoroughly deserved the win.”