Giants stun Warriors

Larne Patrick

Published: 5:53pm, 5th February 2012
Updated: 9:20am, 6th February 2012

Huddersfield shrugged off the absence of seven first-choice players to pull off a 20-16 opening-round win over 2010 Super League champions Wigan.

The Giants were lacking six regulars through injury and new signing Tony Tonks to suspension, but knocked Wigan off their stride from the kick-off and thoroughly deserved their victory.

Huddersfield's hero was 23-year-old Larne Patrick, who had been expected to miss the start of the new season after breaking a wrist in training but made a rapid recovery in time to answer his club's front-row injury crisis.

Ben Westwood missed a last-minute conversion attempt as his Warrington side were held to a 20-20 draw at Hull.

Westwood's failed attempt meant both sides left the KC Stadium content following an even and hard-fought match played in sub-zero conditions.

Both sides had threatened to win the game and held the ascendancy, with Hull thankful to two Danny Tickle tries for handing them a second-half lead which they looked like holding on to, but Rhys Evans' 78th-minute try levelled the scores before Westwood's missed kick ensured an entertaining draw.

Catalan Dragons got their season off to a magnificent start with an impressive 34-12 victory at woeful Bradford.

The Bulls may have been regretting their decision to do everything in their power to ensure the game went ahead after an evening of heavy snow as Catalan ran in six tries.

Scrum-half Scott Dureau played a key part in the Dragons' resounding success, setting up two tries as well as kicking 10 points.

Jason Baitieri, Clint Greenshields, Thomas Bosc, Setaimata Sa, Daryl Millard and Sebastien Raguin grabbed the Dragons' tries with Jamie Langley and Elliot Kear going over for the Bulls.