By JOHN DAVIDSON
HUDDERSFIELD have turned a corner – but it was more pain for their opponents.
The Giants claimed their second win of the season, beating York 34-14 off the back of a great Jacob Gagai brace.
The Giants ran in six tries in the convincing Easter display, making it back-to-back victories after last weekend’s shock triumph over Wigan.
For the injury-hit Knights, it was their fourth loss in a row and one where they were largely second best.
Huddersfield struck first, with a seventh-minute try coming from Adam Clune.
A scrappy pass came from dummy half caught the York defence napping and the halfback strolled over.
It took just three minutes for the Giants to add their second.
Niall Evalds pushed off a weak tackle for an easy four-pointer.
Zenon nailed his kick and the home team were cruising at 12-0.
The Giants were in no mood to ease off, and soon they had another try. A quick shift to the right wing ending with Zenon touching down.
The winger’s conversion took it to a commanding 18-0.
York almost had a struck of luck in the 20th minute, when a pass bounced off a team-mate’s knee and Oli Field scooped it up, but the video referee ruled no try.
The Knights kept battling away and finally had their reward eight minutes later.
Will Roberts and the visitors pounced on a lovely Ata Hingano grubber were back in it.
Roberts couldn’t convert his own try, leaving the score at 18-4.
This score gave York confidence and soon they were in again.
The Knights moved down the field and, with a quick shift to the right, David Nofoaluma brushed off a tackle to barge over.
Roberts’ missed his second conversion attempt, leaving the buffer at 10 points.
But Huddersfield were on notice with momentum shifting to the visitors.
The Giants went close to adding a fourth try right before half-time, however York’s defence managed to keep them out.
It remained at 18-8 as half-time dawned, with temperatures raised between the two sides with a skirmish between Josh Griffin and Tui Lolohea.
In the second half it was Huddersfield who started hot.
It took just three minutes for Jacob Gagai to find his way over the line.
Zenon missed his kick, but the Giants had the upper hand at 22-8.
York were not out of it though and looked to roar back six minutes later.
Paul McShane found Kieran Buchanan and his team-mate crashed through the defence to score.
But there was an obstruction in the lead-up and no try was the call from the video referee.
The game was effectively won on 54 minutes with a sensational second solo try by Gagai.
The centre danced on the outside, dummied to his winger and cut inside for a fantastic try.
Oliver Russell made no mistake in extending the lead to 28-8.
Nikau Williams got a consolation try in the 68th minute, courtesy of a Paul McShane basketball pass over the top – but it was not enough to stop the inevitable.
There was still time for Zac Woolford to grab an intercept and dive over to ice the win.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
