Huddersfield Giants 48 Catalans Dragons 6: Brough shines as Huddersfield give French lesson in finishing

The Giants were looking to bounce back from their home defeat to St Helens last time out and they ran in nine tries as Brett Hodgson booted six goals in an emphatic win.

But it was the performance of man-of-the-match Danny Brough, in only his second game since joining from Wakefield, which proved the talking point.

Kevin Brown came up with a wonderful chip early on and Steven Bell could only run the ball into touch.

Catalans expected the Giants to work the short side but an outrageous dummy from David Faiumu allowed the loose forward to waltz his way through a gaping hole with just five minutes gone.

Brett Hodgson tagged on the extras before Jamal Fakir proceeded to hand the hosts another great field position when he spilled at the play-the-ball in the 11th minute.

The ball was worked left by Brown and Brough, who showed a great dummy, found Lee Gilmour with a good ball and there was no stopping him as he powered towards the line.

Brett Hodgson struck the upright with the conversion.

An excellent third arrived in the 23rd minute as Luke Robinson displayed great vision in dribbling the ball through for Brough to touch down.

David Hodgson then got in on the act when he squeezed his way over in the corner.

Again it came from a knock-on, the ball was shipped left at pace by the Giants backs and Hodgson dived over.

The lead increased again when Brough fooled the Catalans defence with a clever kick.

Brown spotted exactly what he was doing and raced down the middle to score a try, which was converted by Brett Hodgson.

Catalans improved after the break and Leroy Cudjoe did well to clear with Vaccari closing in.

The hosts were punished for a slow start to the second half when Dimitri Pelo crossed for a try, converted by William Barthau, but the Giants replied as Brough slid a kick in behind the Catalans defence and Cudjoe came racing onto it for his eighth try of the season.

Brett Hodgson booted the extra two points before Brough came up with a great solo effort. He picked the ball up 10 metres out, changed direction, accelerated between two defenders and threw himself over the line.

David Hodgson then finished well in the corner, the Giants winger going low and hard for the line as the cover arrived.

Vaccari denied Brough his hat-trick when he got back to boot the ball dead but Brett Hodgson scored a great breakaway try, which he converted himself, just before the final hooter.

Huddersfield: B. Hodgson, D. Hodgson, Whaturia, Lolesi, Cudjoe, Brown, Brough, Mason, Robinson, Raleigh, Gilmour, Aspinwall, Faiumu. Substitutes: D. Griffin, Lunt, Horne, Crabtree.

Catalans Dragons: Pelo, Vaccari, Touxagas, Gigot, Bell, Barthau, Bosc, Fakir, McGuire, Guisset, Carlaw, Mounis, Johnson. Substitutes: K. Bentley, Martins, Simon, A. Bentley.

Referee: S Ganson (St Helens).