After several punishing drives, Ferguson spotted a gap and, aided by poor tackling, cut through and off-loaded to centre Luke Thundercliffe who sped under the posts.

And five minutes later they were virtually away and gone, after Huddersfield’s under-siege defence collapsed again, this time letting in former Halifax star Oli Marns, and with two successful conversions Ionians went in at the break 20-6 ahead.

Huddersfield coach Mark Sowerby rung the changes in the second half, sending on Damian Clayton for Hinchliffe and Alex Battye for the limping McPhail, but it made no difference to the direction the game was taking.

Ferguson knocked over a penalty from the re-start and then after a series of surges and being held up on the line, the home side were awarded a penalty try which Ferguson again converted to put his side out of sight.

Skipper Mark Whitehead replaced Nick Sharpe at flanker and instilled some sense of urgency, and it was through his quick tapped penalty to himself that Huddersfield finally made some progress, as he set off on the burst, brought his backs into play, and when the ball fell loose, left winger Matt Clarke picked up and shrugged off a couple of tackles on the way to the line.

In the closing stages Clarke threatened to score again after another great run down the sideline, only to be bundled into touch by the covering Marns to leave the visitors well adrift and with plenty to think about over the coming days.

Hull Ionians: Smith; Nixon, Greene, Thundercliffe, Marns; Ferguson, Bartless; Starling, Mortimer, Wilson, Hill, Kench, Wigham (R), Wigham (M), Hague.

Huddersfield Van Vuuren; Ryder, Paxman (B ), Paxman (L), Clarke, Johnson; Hinchliffe (Clayton 40); Slater, Davies (Entressengle 70), McPhail (Battye 40), Harris, Rhodes, Lewis (Hinchliffe 60), Sharpe (Whitehead 55), Hyde.

Referee: Rob Sheard (RFU).