Huddersfield GIANTS turned on the style in the second half to seal a welcome victory at the expense of play-off hopefuls Harlequins.
The struggling Giants found themselves 10-8 behind at the break after a turgid opening 40 minutes but two tries shortly after the restart from Jamahl Lolesi and Stuart Jones gave them the advantage.
That the victory was achieved without a number o
f key players and against a Quins side who beat reigning champions Leeds in such exhilarating fashion last weekend made it all the more impressive and caretaker coaches Paul Anderson and Keiron Purtill could certainly take heart from their side's second-half performance.
Tom Hemingway, 21, emerged a hero for Huddersfield with seven goals after being drafted into the side at scrum-half because of injuries to Chris Thorman and Ryan Hudson and the suspension of Kevin Brown and Luke Robinson.
Hemingway opened the scoring in the third minute with an excellent penalty conversion but Quins hit back two minutes later when some slick handling culminated with Chad Randall sending Tony Clubb over.
Henry Paul could not convert and soon after Huddersfield regained the lead when Lolesi's teasing grubber kick was grounded by Michael Lawrence.
Hemingway added the extras, but the visitors hit back again in the 23rd minute when replacement Karl Temata flew over the line.
Paul added the extras to hand Harlequins a 10-8 advantage but that all changed after the restart.
In the 44th minute, Hemingway added another penalty and then nine minutes later he helped orchestrate a fine move which culminated in Lolesi advancing from 20 metres out to cross the line.
Six minutes later the points were effectively sealed as Jones waltzed through another gaping hole in the Harlequins rearguard to claim Huddersfield's third try.
Hemingway converted and maintained his 100 per cent record with the boot with his third penalty of the afternoon soon after.
Michael Worrincy engineered the space to squeeze over the line for the visitors with only minutes remaining and Paul added a routine conversion.
But it was not nearly enough for Brian McDermott's men and Hemingway added another penalty to cap an outstanding personal display.
Afterwards, Anderson said: "I'm delighted. People thought we could potentially roll over and die, but that's not what this place is about.
"Some of the boys turned into men and if you go through the team – from one to 17 – then it was clear for everybody to see."
Anderson admitted he and Purtill are enjoying their spells in joint caretaker charge while the search for Sharp's permanent successor continues.
"This is a challenge that is going to stand Keiron and I in good stead for when we both become head coaches," he added.
"But as for who ends up getting the job here on a permanent basis then you will have to go and speak to the chairman or chief executive."
Huddersfield Giants: Cudjoe, Aspinwall, Lawrence, Wild, Elford, Whaturia, Hemingway, Skandalis, Jones, Mason, Lolesi, Snitch, Raleigh. Substitutes: Crabtree, Jensen, Kirmond, M. Brown.
Harlequins RL: Melling, Bryan, Clubb, Howell, Sharp, Hill, Orr, McCarthy-Scarsbrook, Randall, Ward, Worrincy, Paul, Mbu. Substitutes: Rinaldi, Temata, Haggerty, Heckenberg.
Referee: P Bentham.
