Crusaders can't stop Giants

Hodgson: hat-trick of tries

Huddersfield bounced back from their mauling at the hands of Wigan with a comfortable 40-12 victory over Crusaders at Shay Stadium.

Winger David Hodgson ran in a second-half hat-trick as the Giants easily gained revenge for their shock loss at the Racecourse earlier this season.

However, the victory for Nathan Brown's side was overshadowed by a serious-looking injury to Kevin Brown after the final hooter had sounded.

Crusaders' forward Hep Cahill was sin-binned for a poor late challenge that left the Giants skipper needing treatment for 10 minutes before the game could finally end.

Brown had scored one try and also made another in the opening half to help Huddersfield open up an 18-0 lead at the break.

It was his defence-splitting pass after just four minutes that allowed David Fa'alogo to go over near the posts to break the deadlock.

Greg McNally kicked the first of his six conversions, the half-back also landing the extras after Joe Wardle had reached the try-line in the eighth minute.

Huge cushion

Brown showed great agility in a solo run after 23 minutes to score a lovely touchdown that gave the Giants a huge cushion at the halfway stage.

Crusaders did briefly threaten to make a game of it when Tony Martin grabbed a quick-fire brace, Michael Witt converting both scores by the centres to cut the gap down to just six points.

Hodgson, however, took centre stage in the second period, his first try of the afternoon coming courtesy of full-back Scott Grix's kick.

He crossed again after 62 and 74 minutes to complete his treble, taking his tally to 12 tries in his last seven games. It could have been 13 had he not had another ruled out just before the hour mark.

The contest ended on a rather sour note, though, when Cahill left Brown in a heap on the turf. Huddersfield will be hoping his injury is not too serious.