Crusaders (6) 10
Tries: Witt, Dyer Goal: Witt

Huddersfield (18) 38
Tries: Brown, Hodgson 3, Cudjoe, Grix, Drew Goals: Brough 5

Giants' David Hodgson took his Super League try haul for the season to 13

David Hodgson's Racecourse Ground hat-trick helped to keep up Huddersfield's bid for another top three finish.

Two tries in the first seven minutes from Hodgson and Kevin Brown put the Giants on their way to their eighth league win of the season.

After Crusaders replied through forward Weller Hauraki, tries either side of the break from Leroy Cudjoe and Scott Grix stretched the Giants clear.

And Brad Drew, plus two late tries from Hodgson, sealed victory.

Luke Dyer also crossed for Crusaders, but the Giants proved too strong, running in seven tries to cement their hold on fourth place - now within four points of leaders Wigan.

Huddersfield skipper Brett Hodgson, who has rejected a new contract with the club and now looks set to join Warrington next year, was missing, Cudjoe switching from the wing to replace him at full-back.

The visitors also included Michael Lawrence at centre from the team that demolished Hull KR 40-12 in the Challenge Cup last week.

Crusaders were never really in it after finding themselves 12-0 down in seven minutes to two sucker-punches.

Stand-off Brown surged through, before Hodgson breezed in for the easiest of touchdowns, both converted by scrum-half Danny Brough.

Crusaders fought back when second row Hauraki spotted a gap to go under the posts. But Cudjoe took a scoring pass from hooker Graeme Horne to post the third Huddersfield touchdown two minutes from half-time.

And, six minutes after the restart, second row Lee Gilmour raced past the home defence to set up Grix.

Crusaders did get a second try when centre Luke Dyer outpaced the visiting cover to score. But Huddersfield upped the pace, replacement Brad Drew scoring unopposed by the posts before Hodgson twice crossed in the corner in the final eight minutes.

Huddersfield coach Nathan Brown on departing skipper Brett Hodgson:

"It is a gain for Warrington as they have him with them but, from our point of view, we have got him for the rest of the year and that will be great.

"As a coach, your job is to come up with the best replacement possible. Maybe he can educate a few of our full-backs along the way.

"Everyone knows what he has done for the club and what he is going to continue doing for us this year. Whether that replacement is someone within our club or outside, we will move forward."

Crusaders head coach Brian Noble:

"I think we started poorly and gave ourselves a little bit too much to do in the game and that can take the juice out of you.

"In the second half, we tried to play good old-fashioned catch-up football and that does not work.

"It is a good challenge for us, though, because we have to respond to it."

Crusaders: Schifcofske, Thomas, Dyer, Mellars, Youngquest, Witt, Lupton, O'Hara, Withers, Bryant, Hauraki, Chan, Winternstein.
Replacements: Thackray, Peek, Flower, White.

Huddersfield: Cudjoe, Lolesi, Lawrence, Whaturia, D Hodgson, Brown, Brough, D Griffin, Horne, Mason, Gilmour, Fa'alogo, Faiumu.
Replacements: Crabtree, Patrick, Drew, Grix.

Referee: Phil Bentham (Warrington).

Attendance: 4,127.

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