HUDDERSFIELD Giants sent another clear message to their Super League XVI rivals that they could prove one of the teams to beat in 2011 after storming to the top of the table.
Harlequins went into the contest top of the table and unbeaten with three wins out of three, including last Friday’s magnificent triumph at Leeds Rhinos.
But they were clearly second best to the Giants, who were far more dominant than the 18-10 victory suggested.
Coach Nathan Brown sprung something of a surprise by handing a first Super League start to 19-year-old former Wigan back-row forward Jon Molloy.
He got his chance at the expense of the rested Michael Lawrence, while second-rower Dale Ferguson was given a Giants debut from the bench following his recent move from Wakefield.
But the changes made very little difference to the Giants in the opening stages as they continued from where they left off in last week’s win over Hull FC.
On two occasions in the first six minutes Leroy Cudjoe was denied a potential try by the video referee.
The first time, he was halted
agonisingly short of the line and then he touched down after Jermaine McGillvary was adjudged to have knocked a Kevin Brown kick to the corner forward.
And although Rob Purdham did spill a try-scoring pass from Luke Gale moments later, it was still something of a shock when the Quins took the lead after 16 minutes.
Good play close to the line eventually gave Karl Pryce a walk-in in the corner to underline why the Londoners went into the contest top of the league.
But for the rest of the half it was all Huddersfield.
With Larne Patrick making a great impact off the bench to continue the sterling work of starting prop Eorl Crabtree, the Giants began to take control.
By the 26th minute they had taken the lead when strong work close to the line created the opening for Shaun Lunt to send Luke O’Donnell crashing over from close range.
Danny Brough converted, and the visitors had the lead for the first time.
A Brough break almost brought try No2 moments later.
But there was to be no denying the Giants in the 32nd minute when the increasingly-influential Brown’s long, looping pass gave McGillvary a simple try in the corner for Brough to land a superb touchline goal.
The video referee then ruled out an effort for Brown two minutes before the break for an obstruction by Cudjoe, but the Giants were certainly looking full value for their 12-4 interval advantage.
An explosive McGillvary burst almost extended that lead within a minute of the restart.
Yet it was just a taste of things to come as they rammed home their advantage five minutes later.
A strong David Fa’alogo burst on the Quins’ 20 cut the hosts apart and the supporting Graeme Horne was on hand to collect the pass and finish well under heavy traffic for Brough to goal again.
Only good defence denied Brough and Brown midway through the half before the video referee chalked out a ‘try’ for McGillvary after he failed to collect an exquisite Brough kick to the corner in the 66th minute.
But with six minutes remaining, the hosts made it interesting when Luke Dorn fed Chris Melling to stroll over .in the corner for Rob Purdham to slot the ball between the posts.
However, in all honesty, the home side never deserved to get much closer after being put firmly in their place.
The Giants will be hoping to open their Valvoline Cup account today when they face Harlequins at Aldershot Stadium today (2.30).
