Anderson refuses to give up on Giants’ play-off hopes after McGillvary double

Anderson, who was assistant to departed boss Nathan Brown, saw his side end a run of five successive league and cup defeats with a stylish 36-18 victory over Catalan Dragons.

He is now aiming to keep Huddersfield’s ambitions on track with another win at Salford on Friday, and said: “We’re confident of making the play-offs.

“We’ve just competed against a top three side and know that when we do what we’re good at we’ve a chance against anybody.

“Just getting a win was the key and I’m delighted with that. But I was disappointed by the last 20 minutes as it got a bit scrappy.”

The Giants scored six tries, including a first-half double from Jermaine McGillvary, on the way to gaining revenge on the injury-hit Dragons.

A 27-20 defeat in France in May sparked a run of only one win in 10 Super League games which saw Brown leave the club.

McGillvary’s brace came in-between Remi Casty’s score for Catalan before the hosts extended their lead to 24-6 at half-time thanks to tries from Scott Grix and Aaron Murphy.

David Fa’alogo and Lee Gilmour also touched down after the interval, while scrum-half Danny Brough converted all six tries to help Huddersfield forget their recent woes before Daryl Millard and Damien Blanch scored late consolation tries.

A flowing move started by Grix in the seventh minute saw Brough’s high kick into the right corner fall just too far in front of the on-coming McGillvary.

Eorl Crabtree then barged his way up field from deep after nine minutes and passed inside for Tommy Lee, whose kick into the right corner was nearly pounced on by Murphy. The Giants’ persistence paid off as McGillvary dived over in the right corner after 13 minutes to give the home side the lead from a flowing move involving Grix and Leroy Cudjoe.

The academy product’s second try came after full-back Greg Eden was denied what looked a certain try on the line in the left corner.

Huddersfield swept cross field from the next attack, with Grix and Cudjoe again involved, to set up McGillvary for his ninth try of the season.

Grix, in commanding form at stand-off, darted between two defenders on the line to extend Huddersfield’s lead.

Brough and Gilmour then combined on the hooter to put Murphy in for a try in the left corner.

Catalan only got going after the interval in a contest played at the newly-renamed John Smith’s Stadium.

But there was some respite after 18 minutes when Casty beat Brough on a solo run for the line while Ben Fisher had a try ruled out just before half-time. Millard dived over in the 63rd minute after the Giants had hit them with two more tries, from Fa’alogo and Gilmour, early in the second half.

The Dragons also created a flowing move on 66 minutes which opened up the home side’s defence, but Vincent Dupont’s try was ruled out for a forward pass.

Blanch added a third touchdown for Catalan after 72 minutes from Leon Pryce’s kick. Scott Dureau added the extras to finish the match, like Brough, with a 100 per cent record.

Further pressure near the Giants tryline in the closing stages failed to yield another score, with Huddersfield hanging on for a morale-boosting win in front of 5,822 fans.

Huddersfield: Eden, McGillvary, Cudjoe, Gilmour, Murphy, Grix, Brough, Crabtree, Lee, Mason, Ferres, Chan, Lawrence. Substitutes: Faiumu, Fa’alogo, Robinson, Cording.

Catalan Dragons: Stacul, Blanch, Millard, Duport, Cardace, Pryce, Dureau, Ferriol, Fisher, Paea, Casty, Raguin, Baitieri. Substitutes: Henderson, Mounis, Fakir, Larroyer.

Referee: T Alibert (France).