Watson and Ward in line for top award
A missed tackle on the left from Giants allowed Catalans to spread the play and Tierney once again exploited an overlap to touch down outside of McGillvary.
Despite being under-strength on paper, Catalans continued to pose Giants questions and forced a couple of goal-line dropouts.
The visitors then forced a penalty and Tomkins kept up his 100 percent record to put his side 14-10 at half-time.
Tomkins continued to be a menace after the break, and it was his pinpoint kicking that forced Giants into yet more, repeated, goal-line dropouts.
Once again, this pressure turned into points for Catalans as Arthur Mourgue found himself in acres of space down the middle of the park and he placed the ball down. Tomkins slotted the easiest kick of the night to make the score an uneasy 20-10 to the visitors. A penalty, conceded by Ukuma Ta’ai, allowed Tomkins to make it five successful kicks and put Dragons 12 points ahead with 30 minutes left.
The deficit was soon cut to eight, however, as Senior secured his hat-trick with a typical winger’s finish.
Some slick passing from Giants caught Catalans on their heels and when Senior received the ball ten metres out, there PWDLF A Pts 29 26 0 3 916 395 52 29 18 0 11 699 539 36 29 17 0 12 783 597 34 29 16 0 13 709 533 32 29 15 0 14 646 558 30 29 15 0 14 645 768 30 29 13 0 16 553 745 26 29 12 0 17 650 644 24 29 11 0 18 608 723 22 was no doubt the youngster would finish.
Wardle dragged a difficult conversion wide, but Giants looked to be playing with a renewed optimism from the restart.
The noise levels slowly rose in the stadium as Giants probed for another score.
Catalans once again threatened but when they threw the ball dead on the last tackle, Giants could once again believe they could get back into the game.
A poor pass to Tomkins was fumbled and Senior ran 70 metres to score his fourth of the night. Lee Gaskell converted, and Giants were soon ahead when hen a brilliant 40 40-20 20 raised the roof at the John Smith’s Stadium and from the resulting set, Jermaine McGillvary pounced to finish off his first real chance of the game.
The last five minutes was a tense affair with each tackle being celebrated like a try in the stands, and when Giants forced a turnover with less than a minute to go, celebrations in the stands began.
Once the last ten seconds were counted down, huge celebrations erupted and Huddersfield Giants secured their Super League status.
Woolford’s men finished third from bottom, two points ahead of relegated London. GREAT Britain assistants Ian Watson and Danny Ward have been shortlisted for the 2019 Super League coach of the year award.
Watson has guided unfancied Salford to the play-offs while Ward has also defied the odds by taking London Broncos to the last match of the season in their battle to avoid relegation.
Their achievements were recognised earlier in the season when they were chosen to assist Great Britain head coach Wayne Bennett on the end-of-season tour down under.
The pair face competition from Justin Holbrook, who has taken St Helens to the League Leaders’ Shield, and Steve Price, who guided Warrington to Challenge Cup final success.
The winner, determined by a ballot of Super League coaches, will be announced at the Super League awards on October 6.
■CHAMPIONSHIP club Swinton are facing an uncertain future after the board of directors resigned with immediate effect following opposition to its plans to rebrand as Manchester.
The club say directors received threats of violence after announcing proposals they argued were necessary to ensure the future of the club and have asked the Swinton Lions Supporter’s Trust to form a succession plan to take the club forward.
A statement said: “Having assessed all of the above, It is with regret that the board of directors of Swinton Lions RLFC Limited resign their position with immediate effect.”
The club say Stephen Wild has agreed to remain as sole director on an interim basis until a new board is formed.