Cudjoe treble slays Dragons

Cudjoe: Hat-trick hero

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Huddersfield Giants slashed the gap between themselves and second-placed Leeds Rhinos to just two points with a commanding 36-12 victory over Catalans Dragons.

Leroy Cudjoe was the Huddersfield hero, helping himself to a hat-trick as the hosts romped to a fifth successive Super League win.

The wing's treble took him into double figures for the season and ensured he went home with the match ball after a seven-try demolition of the Dragons.

It had all started so well for the visitors, Clint Greenshields crossing the whitewash with less than two minutes on the clock to silence the home faithful.

Thomas Bosc slotted over the extras, yet the response from the Giants could not have been much more emphatic.

On eight minutes, Brett Hodgson expertly palmed Liam Fulton's pass out to Cudjoe and he touched down in the right corner for his first try of the afternoon.

Crucial score

Hodgson's conversion was off target but, with Kevin Brown and Luke Robinson linking up dangerously at half-back, the Giants continued to probe.

They made their domination count in the 12th minute when Hodgson clinically grounded the ball in the corner following a penalty which saw Greenshields sin-binned for persistent holding down.

With Catalans all at sea, Brown slipped in Darrell Griffin down the left-hand side and the Huddersfield prop barged his way over the line. Hodgson's first successful conversion took the score to 14-6.

A fourth Giants score arrived just before the half hour mark as Scott Moore's clever grubber kick was pounced on by Cudjoe in the right corner.

The Dragons desperately needed a response before half-time and on 31 minutes Dimitri Pelo went over in the left corner for a try which Bosc converted with aplomb.

The first score after the interval was always going to be crucial, and when David Hodgson squeezed over in the left corner on 49 minutes, the game was all but sealed.

Brett again added the extras and the Giants threatened to run riot when Simon Finnigan grounded a neat grubber from Robinson.

And with just five minutes remaining Cudjoe completed his hat-trick after more fine play from Robinson.