Mighty Quins blank Giants

Harlequins moved up to second in the Super League table thanks to a shut-out success against Huddersfield at the Twickenham Stoop.

The home side scored four unanswered tries to record a 24-0 win, their fourth in five outings at the start of the 2008 season.

Chad Randall and David Howell both crossed in the opening half as Brian McDermott's side went in at the break 12-0 ahead.

Rikki Sheriffe added a third score just after the hour mark before Louie McCarthy-Scarsbrook grabbed the final try eight minutes before time.

Skipper Rob Purdham and Henry Paul both kicked two goals apiece against a Giants side that failed to muster a single point from their trip to the capital.

Surprise package

While Huddersfield are left to wonder where it all went wrong Quins can continue to revel in their role as the competition's surprise package.

Tipped by many experts to struggle, the Londoners looked to be on course for a season of toil when they were hammered at home by Wigan.

However since that opening weekend loss they have gone undefeated, seeing off Hull and Wakefield before producing a sensational injury-time comeback at Castleford last time out.

There were no need for late heroics this time around and they hit the front inside the opening five minutes.

Hooker Randall bundled his way over from dummy-half as back-to-back sets of six paid off for the hosts.

Paul added the conversion but the Giants nearly answered straight back when Danny Orr, who had played a key role in the opening try, turned from hero to villain by spilling the re-start.

Some desperate tackling denied Stephen Wild just short of the line as somehow Quins stood firm under pressure.

From then on Huddersfield barely posed a threat, going further behind when Purdham and the impressive Orr created space from a scrum move to allow Howell to crash over.

Paul penalty

Although Paul missed the extras he did land a penalty just before the half-time hooter to make it 12-0 at the interval, his last contribution of the afternoon as he did not come out for the second half.

Quins managed to make do without the former England rugby union international, Mark McLinden taking over at stand-off and setting up his side's third try.

It was his bomb that was spilt by Shane Elford and from the resulting set of six, McLinden avoided Paul Whatuira before sending Sheriffe over the line.

Purdham converted, and the Giants' miserable day was complete when McCarthy-Scarsbrook grabbed the final score in the dying minutes.

His effort next to the posts allowed his captain a simple kick at goal to round out an excellent performance from the home team, who will take their unbeaten record on the road to Leeds next week in a top-of-the-table clash.