IN a season of ups and downs, one Huddersfield Giants fixture stands out proudly from the crowd.

The date was Friday, April 15 and head coach Nathan Brown’s men headed to Headingley to take on the might of Leeds Rhinos.

It’s safe to say it hasn’t been a happy hunting ground in recent decades.

In fact, Huddersfield’s last success in Leeds had been a Yorkshire Cup triumph in 1960!

But on a wonderful Super League night, that 51-year wait came to a glorious end as the Giants romped to a memorable 38-6 triumph and went clear at the top of the table in the process.

Two tries each from Shaun Lunt and Dale Ferguson, one apiece from Luke Robinson and Jermaine McGillvary – who went on to crown a memorable campaign by taking the title of official Super League Rookie of the Year – and seven goals from Danny Brough sent the Giants fans into raptures as their club recorded one of their finest Super League hours.

It was just a shame the Rhinos were able to get their own back when it came to the play-offs – a play-off campaign the Giants are keen to forget.

For much of the season, Huddersfield had managed to stay relatively injury-free, which helped them finish the season fourth – but then the knocks took their toll, big time!

In their qualifying play-off clash at minor champions Warrington, the patched-up Giants were thrashed 47-0, although they were handed a second bite of the cherry at home to Leeds in the preliminary semi-final.

Again, it was to end in tears as Huddersfield went down 34-28, with their visitors then going on to be crowned Super League champions against all the odds.

It was clearly a disappointing way to end what had initially been a season of great hope.

On the opening day of the season, Brown’s men made their intentions clear at Cardiff’s Millennium Stadium with a stunning 28-16 Magic Weekend triumph over a Warrington side many had been tipping as potential Super League champions.