Salford City Reds 24 Huddersfield Giants 18: Giants are beaten as Williams impresses for Salford

The Reds went into the game after successive defeats by Hull KR, Leeds and Wigan and keen to avenge their 52-22 hammering at Huddersfield in April.

Huddersfield, the early season pacesetters who will fall out of the top four if Catalan beat Warrington today, were missing Danny Brough alongside Luke O’Donnell. But Luke Robinson passed a late fitness test and made a surprise appearance against one of his former clubs.

Salford made a flying start after Huddersfield failed to gather the ball from the kick-off and captain Daniel Holdsworth crashed over. Holdsworth added the conversion.

The Reds had a let-off with ex-Salford winger David Hodgson having a ‘try’ disallowed by referee James Child for a forward pass from Kevin Brown.

Huddersfield had better fortune after 21 minutes with Jermaine McGillvary beating Jodie Broughton to score his 14th try of the season from a well-judged kick by Scott Grix, who landed the touchline conversion.

The Reds regained the lead almost immediately with Williams taking Holdsworth’s pass to cut inside to make it 12-6.

The Giants levelled thanks to a scorching break by Brown which was supported by Lee Gilmour, with Grix adding the conversion.

Huddersfield went in front for the first time with David Fa’alogo charging onto Robinson’s pass, Grix’s conversion making it 18-12.

McGillvary was helped off early in the second half before Huddersfield missed a chance to go further ahead when Grix narrowly failed to score from Brown’s kick. It proved costly with Adam Neal’s burst creating the chance for Williams to take Sean Gleeson’s pass for his second try and reduce the arrears to two points.

Hodgson had another ‘try’ ruled out for another forward pass from Brown after Huddersfield had been forced to soak up pressure.

But the Reds regained the lead 13 minutes from time with Williams taking Luke Patten’s pass to complete his treble.

Holdsworth sealed a deserved victory with a last-gasp penalty to give Matt Parish his first win in charge after three defeats.

Huddersfield are now without an away win since beating Hull on May 27.

Salford Reds: Patten, Broughton, Gibson, Gleeson, Williams, Ratchford, Holdsworth, Cashmere, Smith, Boyle, Henry, L. Adamson, Wild. Substitutes: Godwin, Neal, Paleaaesina, Jewitt.

Huddersfield Giants: Grix, McGillvary, Cudjoe, Lawrence, D. Hodgson, Brown, Robinson, Crabtree, Simpson, Griffin, Gilmour, Fa’alogo, Faiumu. Substitutes: Patrick, Kirmond, Raleigh, Horne.

Referee: J Child (England).