Match report: Harlequins 16 - Giants 42

Apr 6 2009 by Chris Roberts, Huddersfield Daily Examiner

HUDDERSFIELD Giants have sent another clear message to their main rivals that they mean business – only this time in the Challenge Cup!

Having won five of their opening seven Super League fixtures, coach Nathan Brown’s side opened their Cup campaign in equally impressive style.

An opening assignment away to fellow Super League rivals Quins clearly had the potential to end a Giants’ Wembley Challenge Cup dream at the first hurdle.

A week earlier Harlequins had won at home to Hull, and in their previous fixture at The Stoop they had thrashed star-studded Warrington Wolves 60-8 in a mesmerising attacking display.

But the Quins found coach Nathan Brown’s men a completely different proposition.

It’s true that Huddersfield had thrashed the men from the capital 46-6 at the Galpharm in their Super League showdown just 13 days before.

However, few would surely have ever imagined the Giants would have been almost as destructive on this Cup return.

But within minutes it was clear a repeat could be on the cards.

Almost immediately, the Giants’ pack was in command and half-backs Luke Robinson and Kevin Brown were pulling the attacking strings.

It was no surprise, therefore, when Brown fed stand-out prop Keith Mason to charge 10m for the opening try after just six minutes and for Brett Hodgson to land the first of his four goals.