HUDDERSFIELD backed up last week’s home win over Catalan Dragons with another well deserved triumph at Salford to virtually guarantee a Super League play-off slot.
It may not have been the greatest Huddersfield performance in the world.
But given the wretched recent run of form, there were few complaints from the visiting contingent, who will clearly be looking to build on the new-found momentum in the closing weeks of the campaign.
The Giants were dealt a late blow with Danny Brough failing to prove his fitness with the dead leg he suffered in Sunday’s win over Catalan Dragons.
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In his absence, Tommy Lee and Scott Grix formed a makeshift half-back pairing.
But they were boosted by the return of promising strike centre Joe Wardle, who hadn’t played since suffering an abdominal injury in the defeat against the City Reds in the Magic Weekend fixture on May 27.
There was also a return on the bench for Scott Moore, who missed the Dragons’ clash in order to rest a couple of niggles.
Yet despite the key changes, the Giants were quickly into their stride and took the lead after seven minutes.
Strong work by the impressive Jason Chan took play to the Salford line and Grix and Leroy Cudjoe then combined before feeding Jermaine McGillvary to finish well in the corner, too far out for stand-in kicker Grix to convert.
That lead came close to being extended 10 minutes later when a dazzling Lee break deserved a better conclusion, with Eorl Crabtree just failing to get over after backing up the move, and Grix was held up over the tryline on the next play.
The dominant Giants then forced a drop-out moments later, but Lee was unable to ground the ball for a score on the last play of the subsequent set as the visitors kept the ball alive superbly.
At that stage, it was all Huddersfield.
And even when Cudjoe earned himself a silly spell in the sin-bin for slowing down the restart after Lee’s missed opportunity, the visitors remained on top as Lee almost immediately kicked high to the corner, the City Reds defence fumbled and Tommy Lee pounced to score. Grix’s conversion made it 10-0.
Danny Williams did show Salford were still a clear threat when he crossed in the corner moments later, although it was chalked off for a forward pass, but they weren’t to be denied in the 28th minute when Vinnie Anderson collected wide on the left and cut inside before charging over. Daniel Holdsworth converted and the lead was back to four points.
Aaron Murphy did well to sweep up from a highly-promising Salford break six minutes before the break but on their next attack, the hosts kept the ball alive on the sixth tackle for Jodie Broughton to touch down in the corner and for Holdsworth to add an excellent touchline conversion.
At 12-10 down at the break, the Giants had let an excellent early advantage slip away.
But they couldn’t have made a better start to the second half as they broke down field straight away, with Ferres playing a key role, and the ball was worked out to Greg Eden to collect, dummy and race 30m for a fine try in the corner.
And five minutes later more good approach play opened up the Reds’ defence for Grix to feed Chan to storm over. Grix’s goal made it 20-12.
Murphy was unlucky not to extend the lead in the 55th minute when he just failed to collect a Moore grubber kick, and five minutes later the Giants were made to pay as Salford reduced the deficit when Danny Williams crossed.
The restart went straight out on the full and from the subsequent set, Sean Gleeson caught the defence napping on the short side close to the line to plunge over in the corner.
With Holdsworth failing with both conversions it was 20-20.
Williams looked to have given Salford the lead with 12 minutes remaining, but he dropped the ball over the tryline.
And the visitors wasted little time taking advantage as Grix slotted over a penalty two minutes later after he had been caught high after backing up an Eorl Crabtree break.
The win was then sealed with three minutes remaining when good pressure on the line gave Robinson the opening to feed Michael Lawrence to stroll over with Salford expecting a grubber into the in-goal area.
Grix converted and then added a penalty on the final hooter after Crabtree’s thrilling break from deep.
In the other matches last night, the stricken Bradford Bulls – who next play the Giants – beat Hull KR 32-26 in front of the Sky TV cameras.
Fifth-placed Leeds Rhinos hammered Widnes 68-24 at Headingley.
Huddersfield’s Under 20s suffered a 41-14 Valvoline Cup defeat to Salford in a curtain-raiser to the Super League clash.
