Huddersfield Giants 52 Salford City Reds 4: Rampant Giants run in nine tries as Wild puts on display

GIANTS loose forward Stephen Wild showed his class against his future employers as the play-off contenders sealed a fourth straight win.

Wild, who is to join the City Reds on a three-year deal from next season, went over under the posts from Andy Raleigh's pass on 27 minutes.

Salford had conceded more than 100 points in their recent hammerings by Crusaders and Hull KR and they shipped another half-century as the Giants ran in nine tries and scored eight goals.

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Former Wakefield hooker Danny Brough started the rout with a brilliant solo effort only six minutes into a one-sided contest.

His pace carried him past two attempted tackles but when he was held up by a third challenger he somehow wriggled free and burst for the line.

Wild's effort prompted a spell of pressure in which Raleigh and Luke Robinson went close before New Zealand World Cup winner David Fa'alogo dived over from Leroy Cudjoe's rollback on 32 minutes.

Captain Brett Hodgson kicked two conversions to leave the Giants 16-0 up at the break.

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The Giants then scored three tries in eight minutes early in the second half to kill the contest.

David Faiumu, Kevin Brown and Larne Patrick all scored converted tries. A second touchdown from Faiumu, one from Lee Gilmour and another from Graeme Horne brought up the half-century in style.

Second-bottom Salford spent most of the game pinned in their own half such was the intensity of Huddersfield's pressing.

A rare forage forward midway through the second half saw playmaker Matty Smith dive over, but the consolation effort was ruled out by a touch judge for a forward pass.

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The City Reds did though finally get on the scoresheet in overtime when Jodie Broughton went over in the corner after the final hooter had already gone. The effort was allowed to stand but Steven Tyrer missed with the conversion.

Coach Nathan Brown feels fifth place could be up for grabs after yesterday's victory.

He said: "We're definitely looking in better shape than we were this time last year. I feel fifth place could be ours as long as we go to Catalans and play well."

Huddersfield: B. Hodgson, Cudjoe, Lawrence, Gilmour, D. Hodgson, Brown, Robinson, Crabtree, Brough, Horne, Lunt, Fa'alogo, Wild. Substitutes: Raleigh, Faiumu, Patrick, Finnigan.

Salford: Ratchford, Broughton, Gibson, Littler, Tyrer, Sneyd, M. Smith, Cashmere, J. Smith, Neal, Sibbit, Sidlow, Swain. Substitutes: Parker, Leuluai, Owen, T. Adamson.

Referee: T Alibert (Toulouse).