HARLEQUINS 16, HUDD'FIELD 32
Brett Hodgson inspires Giants to vital win
BRETT HODGSON guided Huddersfield to a vital win at stuttering Harlequins as the Giants kept up the pressure at the top of the Super League table.
Hodgson crossed for two late tries and booted 12 points as the visitors eased past the Londoners for the third time this season, having dispatched Quins in both the league and cup.
Neither side could gain the upper hand in a bruising first half with defences well on top, and it was close to the quarter-hour mark before the game saw its first score, Luke Gale twisting over after a slick Chad Randall pass to give the hosts the lead.
The Giants responded with vigour, and after Eorl Crabtree made a break only to have no support, Luke Robinson scampered clear, freeing up Michael Lawrence who put Leroy Cudjoe in at the corner.
Harlequins were enjoying arguably the better of the arm wrestle, forcing a brace of goal-line drop-outs, but they distinctly lacked any cutting edge.
They did almost profit from a mistake on the half-hour mark, Hodgson completely misjudging a towering Danny Orr kick, but Chad Robinson was held just short.
But right on half-time Huddersfield took advantage of a Harlequins error, Liam Fulton's booming kick twice missed by Chris Melling and David Hodgson bundled over.
The hosts became desperately ragged after the break, and although the Giants never hit top gear they had more than enough to keep Harlequins at bay.
Huddersfield stretched their lead minutes after the restart, Cudjoe slapping the ball inside for Lawrence to stroll over. And when Hodgson stroked over a late penalty the game looked well and truly won.
Two tries inside the final 10 minutes from Melling clawed the hosts back into it, but Hodgson himself sealed things when he broke clear to go under the posts and wrapped things up with a further try on the hooter.
SCORERS - Harlequins: Tries C Melling 2, L Gale 1; goals: D Orr 2. Huddersfield: Tries B Hodgson 2, L Cudjoe 1, M Lawrence 1, D Hodgson 1; goals: B Hodgson 6,
This article has 0 comments