Harry Smith stars as Wigan Warriors leave it late to lift Betfred Challenge Cup trophy

It was late drama at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium as Wigan Warriors won the Betfred Challenge Cup with a late try from Liam Marshall.

This meant heartbreak for Ian Watson’s Huddersfield Giants who were minutes away from their first Challenge Cup success since 1953.

After a cagey start, Huddersfield began to get control of the game as nerves began to kick in for the Warriors.

Matt Peet’s side continuously made unnecessary mistakes as the Giants looked to capitalise on their 2-0 advantage which they got through a penalty goal in the opening two minutes.

And eventually, Ian Watson’s men did take advantage as Ricky Leutele piled through despite the best efforts of Bevan French to score and put the Giants 6-0 to the good.

Wigan did finally look to settle and after a period of sustained pressure, Harry Smith broke through on the left and scored to level the scores as he converted his own try.

But before the interval, Huddersfield got themselves back in front through a great piece of individual skill from Chris McQueen who dropped a shoulder to sell Liam Marshall before ghosting past the challenge of Jai Field to get the Giants back ahead and 10-6 to the good at half-time.

The second half started in a completely different fashion with the Warriors coming out all guns blazing and within two minutes, they hit the front.

Brilliant running down the right from Bevan French allowed him to get the perfect assist for Jai Field who went over for Wigan’s second try of the afternoon.

But Huddersfield didn’t go missing which teams can quite easily do when conceding that early, and the Giants weren’t for going away quietly.

Morgan Smithies was lucky to stay on the field after a high tackle looked to be missed by referee James Child.

But moments later, the Giants were back ahead as Jermaine McGillvary powered down the right and held himself up-right before going over in the corner to put the Giants back in front.

The Warriors continued to push to get back into the tie but it appeared as though Matt Peet’s side were beginning to run out of ideas.

But just when you thought they were down and out, Harry Smith produced a world-class kick to put Liam Marshall through and over in the corner he went to win Wigan Warriors the Betfred Challenge Cup.

It meant heartbreak for the Huddersfield Giants who have defied the odds time and time again and looked to be there, but the Warriors eventually came out and top and were the side celebrating at full-time.

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