Warriors move four points clear - Sports News - Fanatics - the world's biggest events

Warriors move four points clear

By Nick Clowes 17/05/2010 05:33:16 AM Comments (0)

Wigan coach Michael Maguire praised his side's relentless attacking prowess after the Warriors moved four points clear at the top of the Super League with a tight 38-30 win over Huddersfield.

Former Parramatta Eel and Wests Tiger Pat Richards proved pivotal in the win kicking two penalties and five of six conversions; however, it was far from plain sailing for Wigan.

Huddersfield tested the Warriors throughout matching their haul of six tries with David Hodgson bagging a hat-trick and Leroy Cudjoe, New Zealander Paul Whatuira and Eorl Crabtree also touching down.

However, it wasn't enough with Richards' boot the difference after Darrell Goulding's and Joel Tomkins' doubles plus scores from former Newcastle Knight George Carmont and Andy Coley.

And Australian coach Maguire admitted he couldn't have asked for more from his side going forward.

"Every time we got down into their area, we came up with some points so it was pleasing from that point of view," he said.

"But we have got to make sure we don't put ourselves in that position too often. When we had the ball we knew we had to get down the other end and score because of Huddersfield's quality.

"We got ourselves in a tough position at times throughout the game but my players kept working hard for each other and we were lucky enough to come out the right end."

Meanwhile, Salford City Reds coach Shaun McRae hailed his side's against-all-odds 42-34 victory over St Helens as one of the greatest achievements of his career.

Scrum-half Matty Smith - who is on a season-long loan from St Helens - led the charge against his parent club with a hat-trick of tries at the Willows.

Ex-Canterbury Bulldog Daniel Holdsworth also got in on the act with a try and five goals as Salford ended the Saints run of six games without defeat.

And McRae, who saw his side battered 68-16 during their last Super League outing against Warrington, said: "I am delighted with the performance and it was a great two points.

"To beat a side like St Helens when you know they are going to keep coming at you, with the quality they have got, is a pretty special victory."

Catalans Dragons coach Kevin Walters is refusing to give up on reaching the Super League play-offs - despite their 28-14 defeat to Hull.

Walters' men have won just two of their 14 games all season and sit eight points away from a play-off spot.

But the ex-Brisbane star insists his side can still upset the odds this season.

"We have to keep going because we are still mathematically in with a chance of the play-offs," said Walters. "As long as that is alive and available to us we will do the best we can to get the wins we need."

Meanwhile, Leeds coach Brian McClennan insists there is still more to come from his Rhinos side after their 26-16 victory over pace-setters Warrington.

The ex-New Zealand coach said: "The attitude and commitment was really good - in the first ten or 12 minutes we hardly got out of our half and we didn't have much ball during the last ten minutes either so it was a very good effort."

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