Marshall’s late try is the winner for Warriors

WIGAN WARRIORS.........16 HUDD’FIELD GIANTS.....14

A TRY four minutes from the end by winger Liam Marshall broke Huddersfield hearts and helped Wigan clinch a record-extending 20th Challenge Cup triumph to deliver a major trophy in Matt Peet’s first season as head coach.

The Giants were on course to end their 69-year wait for a cup victory when they led 14-12 throughout the final quarter, only for Marshall to condemn them to defeat in front of a 51,628 crowd at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.

Huddersfield dominated the first half, but could only manage a four-point lead at the break and in the end were left to reflect on an off day with the boot by full-back Tui Lolohea, who managed to kick just one of five attempts at goal.

It meant a second cup-final defeat in three years for Giants coach Ian Watson and captain Luke Yates following their onepoint loss with Salford in 2020.

They had the encouragement of an early penalty goal from Lolohea and were on top for long periods of the first half.

A knock-on by scrum-half Harry Smith gave Huddersfield a perfect attacking position and in-form centre Ricky Leutele made the most of it, forcing his way over from Lolohea’s pass on 16 minutes.

Lolohea’s conversion attempt bounced back off an upright and those inches ultimately proved to be the difference between the two evenly-matched sides.

Wigan hit back when Smith got on the end of a brilliant offload from the tackle by loose forward Morgan Smithies to scoot over for a try, which he goaled to level the scores.

Watson’s men regained the lead seven minutes before the break, with second rower Chris McQueen going through a gap wide out for his ninth try of the season.

Lolohea again failed with the conversion attempt to leave his side with a tenuous four-point lead at the break and it was wiped out within three minutes of the restart.

Jai Field finished off a longrange move with a glorious try before Smith’s second goal nudged Wigan in front for the first time.

Huddersfield went back in front on 57 minutes when England winger Jermaine McGillvary went over.

In a tense finale, with Wigan throwing caution to the wind, Smith kicked into space for Marshall to score the winning try.