Crusaders (20) 32
Tries: Chan, Hanbury, Schifcofske, Cahill, Tansey, Reardon Goals: Schifcofske 4

Huddersfield (0) 6
Tries: Brough Goals: Brough

Crusaders recovered from a hammering at Warrington last week

Bottom side Crusaders stunned Super League leaders Huddersfield to earn only their third win of the season.

A delay in the Giants arriving caused a late kick-off, and an early score from Jason Chan gave Crusaders the lead.

Despite Michael Witt being sin-binned, Rhys Hanbury, Clinton Schifcofske and Hep Cahill stretched the Welsh side's advantage to 20-0 at half-time.

Danny Brough got the Giants on the board, but Jordan Tansey and Stuart Reardon completed the rout.

Crusaders may have feared the worst after being hammered 64-6 by Warrington last week, especially as the Giants had climbed to the Super League summit with back-to-back wins over Warrington and Leeds.

However, after waiting for the Giants to turn up, the hosts got off to the perfect start when Chan shrugged off two tackles to barge over.

Witt was sent to the sin-bin for talking back to referee Steve Ganson, but Hanbury went over for Crusaders' second score.

Full-back Schifcofske went past a couple of tackles to touch down, then Cahill went over on the left wing to ensure the home side were greeted by a standing ovation at half-time.

The Giants managed to respond after the break, Brough pouncing as a kick over the Crusaders' goal line saw the ball played backwards.

He could have got another but failed to latch onto a grubber kick, while at the other end Hanbury and Tony Martin both had chances.

The Welshmen eventually crossed the line twice more when Vince Mellars put Tansey clear before Reardon extended the winning margin further.

Crusaders had Richard Moore sin-binned at the death, but that did nothing to dampen the euphoria of a win that, temporarily at least, lifts them from the foot of the Super League table, while Huddersfield were knocked off top spot by Warrington's 60-0 thrashing of Salford.

Crusaders coach Iestyn Harris:
"It was a great performance by us but I don't want it to be just a flash in the pan.

"We have got to keep the momentum going. The players had 45 minutes to celebrate after the match before they had a swim and will have two training sessions over the weekend before the Leeds game.

"Huddersfield are a very good side and we threw a lot at the game.

"Defensively, we were very impressive but we had to do it tough defensively. That is what you have to do and, ultimately, if the defensive side is good, the attacking side comes as well."

Huddersfield boss Nathan Brown:
"I think this is unlike a performance that we are use to.

"Most sides have one or two of these a year and today was definitely one for us.

"You have to give the opposition plenty of credit but if you don't have attitude and commitment, there is always a chance that you are going to get beaten no matter who you are playing."

Crusaders: Schifcofske, Reardon, Martin, Mellars, Tansey, Witt, Hanbury, O'Hara, White, Moore, Cahill, Chan, Lupton.

Replacements: Bryant, Sammut, James, Winternstein.

Huddersfield: Grix, McGillvary, Cudjoe, Lawrence, Simpson, Brown, Brough, Crabtree, Robinson, Griffin, Gilmour, Fa'alogo, Horne.

Replacements: Faiumu, Lunt, Patrick, Kirmond.

Att: 3,008

Referee: Steve Ganson (St Helens)

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