Huddersfield Giants produced one of their most accomplished all-round performances in months to outplay seventh-placed Catalan Dragons and comfortably maintain their top-six Super League challenge.

Coach Paul Anderson’s side looked sharper on attack and stronger in defence against a French outfit who at times found it almost impossible to match their hosts.

It was still far from being a perfect Giants performance.

But there were certainly more than enough signs to suggest they’re heading in the right direction at just the right time of the year.

The Giants had the lion’s share of the first-half possession and probably should have held a bigger interval advantage than 14-6.

As well as crossing for three tries in the opening quarter, they also created several other good chances, but lost the ball at the vital moment.

But the start the home side made to the contest did offer some genuine hope.

They took the lead on their first attack after four minutes when Kyle Wood followed up a barnstorming Antonio Kaufusi charge to the line to power over in the corner.

Danny Brough failed to convert, but was on target eight minutes later for his side’s second try when Leon Pryce spilled a towering Brough kick and Aaron Murphy was on hand to pounce and score.

Chris Bailey almost extended the lead a minute later when he powered over the line but couldn’t ground the ball.

Good defence denied the Giants on that occasion, although there was nothing they could do in the 18th minute when Scott Grix’s long cut-out pass gave Jermaine McGillvary enough space to squeeze in at the corner for his 100th professional try on his 100th Giants Super League appearance.

Unfortunately, the loss of the in-form Wood to a knee injury in the 24th minute halted the momentum and it wasn’t long before Eloi Pelissier cut the deficit with a close-range try, converted by Sam Williams.

It took the Giants until five minutes after the restart to finally get back on the board, when a Catalan move broke down on the home team’s 40m line for Joe Wardle to collect and race away to score under the posts with Brough adding the extras.

Ukuma Ta’ai almost extended the lead moments later when he crashed over, but he had the ball ripped from his grasp in a two-man tackle.

That only delayed the inevitable, though, as McGillvary capitalised on some good work from Brough to easily brush off Pryce and score a try in the corner, magnificently goaled by the captain.

The Dragons showed they hadn’t given up all hope when Michael Oldfield finished off a long-range break to score in the corner and make it 26-10.

But Huddersfield’s response couldn’t have been more impressive, with Brough’s delicate chip gathered at the second attempt by Wardle to grab his second.

Brough obviously liked that move as he tried it three minutes later, with Brett Ferres capitalising this time after collecting Jodie Broughton’s tap-back to touch down.

Catalan continued to keep plugging away and scored an exquisitely-worked try through Morgan Escare with four minutes remaining.

But this game was all about the Giants, as another step taken in the right direction.

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