Huddersfield (8) 40
Tries: McGillvary 2, Brown, Finnigan, Lawrence, Grix, D Hodgson, Brough Goals: Brough 2
Harlequins (4) 4
Tries: Dorn

McGillvary had a loan spell at Batley earlier this season

Huddersfield academy product Jermaine McGillvary scored a third brace in four starts as the Giants ran in eight tries against second-from-bottom Harlequins.

The winger, 22, scored a fine solo effort three minutes in and then added a second with four minutes remaining.

Kevin Brown made it 8-0 to Giants, before Luke Dorn crossed for the Quins' only points just before the break.

But Giants ran riot, through Simon Finnigan, Michael Lawrence, Scott Grix, David Hodgson and Danny Brough.

Huddersfield-born McGillvary scored twice on his debut against Bradford last month and then did the same against Crusaders two weeks ago.

606: DEBATE The final nail in Quins' far-out dream of reaching the play-off has been hammered in hard dermott is god lol jk GMO

And he got the Giants off to the perfect start by running in down the right in an error-ridden game.

Brown doubled their lead with a fine solo effort before McGillvary denied Quins a way in, with a brilliant last-ditch tackle when Andy Ellis looked destined to score.

Quins, who only had one overseas player for a third consecutive week, got their try when Luke Dorn intercepted Brad Drew's misplaced pass and ran through.

But it was to be their only score of the day, with Huddersfield going on to score six tries in the second half.

Hodgson's try, assisted by Grix, brought his career tally to 600 points.

And Brough's touchdown, which added to his four conversions, came on his 250th appearance.

But it was McGillvary who stole the show, catching Brough's high kick with four minutes left to make the Giants' scoreline even more impressive.

Huddersfield coach Nathan Brown said:

"When you look at the teams below us, you have to think that we'll be there [in the play-offs].

"Crucially, we've got some big players to come back from injury who'll put pressure on those who are in the side to keep playing well.

"In the first half, I thought we defended well. Their only score came from interception, but we couldn't build up any momentum, because we kept making errors.

"In the second half, though, I thought we made a few decent kicks and kept hold of the ball better."

Harlequins coach Brian McDermott said:

"We expected there to be a wave in the second half, and so it proved. Huddersfield looked strong, and were unfortunate to be only four points ahead at half-time.

"Our completion rate was only 27%. That's a ridiculous statistic. We don't normally talk about completion rates, because our style is to get the ball and play it around.

"Huddersfield got into us and stopped us playing. After 30 minutes in the second half, we hadn't completed a set.

"But I'm immensely proud of our young players. People will look at the scoreline and think we got beaten pretty badly. But I don't think the players did a lot wrong.

"In terms of where we want to be five years from now, the club is heading in the right direction, with a lot of good young players who have British and London accents."

Huddersfield: Grix, McGillvary, Cudjoe, Lawrence, D Hodgson, Brown, Brough, D Griffin, Drew, Horne, Gilmour, Wild, Lunt.
Replacements: Crabtree, Finnigan, Faiumu, Patrick.

Harlequins RL: Jones-Bishop, O'Callaghan, Clubb, Purdham, Sharp, Orr, Gale, Ward, Ellis, Wilkes, Melling, Golden, Esders.
Replacements: Mills, Krasniqi, Bolger, Dorn.

Referee: James Child (Dewsbury)

E-mail this to a friend

Printable version