Huddersfield Giants left it late to clinch two more valuable points in their bid to secure a top-four Super League finish.

It was only when Jodie Broughton squeezed in at the corner with 90 seconds remaining to finally see off the challenge of plucky Hull FC.

Up to that point, it had been a topsy-turvy affair, with both sides enjoying spells of ascendancy before the Giants’ class finally shone through.

But even though it was a win Huddersfield just about deserved, the performance wouldn’t have pleased head coach Paul Anderson too much, especially, the concession of five tries against a side who have failed to reach the play-offs.

At this stage of the season, however, a win is a win and the challenge of stepping up a gear for Friday’s final home test of the regular season against leaders St Helens is one the Giants should relish.

In what proved a largely frustrating opening period, the Giants trailed 18-14 at the break.

But given a score of 18-4 after 28 minutes and referee Phil Bentham’s generous approach to Hull’s attempts to slow the play down around the ruck, Huddersfield would probably have settled for that four-point interval deficit.

The signs this could be an uncomfortable afternoon emerged after seven minutes when the Giants’ defence failed to deal with a Jordan Rankin ‘bomb’ and the ball fell kindly for Danny Houghton to finish off the first of Hull’s three first-half tries, all of which were converted by Rankin.

But when Jermaine McGillvary’s amazing run created the opening for Jake Connor to dive over, it looked as if the home side were on their way.

Unfortunately, Danny Brough was unable to convert, and the Airlie Birds made the most of the situation.

Their lead was up to eight points in the 25th minute when Houghton showed great vision to chip ahead for Aaron Heremaia to collect and score and it was 14 three minutes later as Jamie Shaul followed up Rankin’s break from deep to score under the posts.

That, however, shook the Giants to the core a their dominated the rest of the half.

David Faiumu grabbed his side’s second try in the 33rd minute when he crossed from acting half close to the line and Connor then charged over for his second three minutes later after latching on to Brough’s inside pass.

As a result, the break came at just the wrong time, with the momentum firmly behind the men in claret and gold.

That momentum looked to have been halted within two minutes of the restart when Heremaia came desperately close to collecting his second kick to score under the posts.

And it definitely had in the 51st minute when Jordan Thompson charged over from 30m to make it 22-14.

Fortunately, that seemed to stir the Giants again, with Craig Kopczak picking up a loose ball and feeding Brought to race away and release Jodie Broughton to finish well in the corner.

Brough landed a magnificent touchline conversion and the lead was now just two.

That deficit was then cancelled out two minutes later when Shaul lost the ball in a tackle and Brett Ferres picked up to score in the corner to make it 24-22.

More good pressure gained further reward as Anthony Mullally crashed through a pile of defenders to score from close range and Brough converted to put the Giants two scores ahead.

It got even better with 13 minutes remaining when good, quick hands released McGillvary to scorch away and knock the unfortunate Rankin out of the way to make it four tries in the space of 13 minutes.

But when Gareth Ellis touched down from a grubber kick in the 73rd minute and Rankin converted to reduce the lead to 34-28, a nerve-wracking finale as on the cards.

Brough could have made the game safe thee minutes later, but made a mess of a drop-goal attempt.

Almost inevitably, the skipper made amends moments later, sending out a long, looping pass for Brough to squeeze in for his second, again too far out for the stand-off to convert.