In one of the weirder Super League games you're likely to see, the Chicago Griffins ran out to a 33-9 halftime lead over the Denver Barbarians in the Mile High City, and then had to hold on for dear life to win 45-35 in a dramatic, wild game.

With the wind certainly a factor, as was the altitude, Chicago was happy to go with the wind in the first half and pile on the points. 

If anything, though, they were concerned it wasn't enough. Three times Denver was able to get out of their end and kick penalties to make it 33-9 at the break.

In the second half, despite having the wind with them, Denver opted to run more with the ball in hand. It worked, of a fashion. Some risky but ultimately effective offloads from the tackle set up a series of tries. Meanwhile, against the wind, Chicago decided to kick.

The wind was actually running at a diagonal across the field, so flyhalf Roland Suniula picked the leeward corner and kept pumping the ball in there. It worked, and with left wing Brendan Brown chasing those kicks and making some big defensive players, they were able to make it a long field for Denver.

Right wing Pat Marek scored a key try late, and Chicago held on.

"We knew we had to do everything we could to win the game in the first half," said Chicago Head Coach Wez Parkes. "We've already played a game in the Denver area and that altitude hits you like a brick right around the 60-minute mark. So we wanted to be able to handle that. I thought the boys did a super job; it was an incredible effort. Roland kicked very well and Brendan Brown made some crucial plays on some high balls. They got through the aching lungs and all that and won on the road, which I am very pleased about."