Cudjoe’s hat-trick makes it six wins in a row for Giants
LEROY Cudjoe scored three tries as Huddersfield Giants outclassed Hull KR to underline their credentials as title contenders in the Betfred Super League with a 38-10 victory at Craven Park.
The impressive Claret and Gold also touched down through Luke Yates, Ricky Leutele, Will Pryce and Jermaine McGillvary, with Pryce kicking five conversions.
All Rovers had to show for their efforts were tries from Matt Parcell and Matty Storton, the latter converted by Lachlan Coote.
Rovers took the lead from their first set after Tui Lolohea’s kick-off had gone out on the full.
The home side went ahead through Parecell’s try after he had gathered a grubber kick from Mikey Lewis on the last tackle with three minutes gone.
Rovers thought they had grabbed their second try off the next attack as Frankie Halton grounded his own low kick into the corner, but it was disallowed on review for a knock-on.
Some resolute defending by Rovers kept the Giants at bay initially, but the home side suffered a setback when they lost influential wing Ryan Hall to a suspected rib injury midway through the first half.
Jimmy Keinhorst was just pushed into touch as he tried to get over in the corner as Rovers 5 356 219 22 8 310 289 16 8 334 350 16 9 281 336 14 10 365 395 12 10 300 380 12 10 261 322 11 11 257 440 10 14 236 449 4
tried to extend their lead with 25 minutes on the clock.
Giants, however, were in front 10 minutes before the break when Cudjoe touched down a grubber from Lolohea and Pryce kicked the extras, even though replays showed the centre looked like he had knocked-on as he went to ground the ball.
Ian Watson’s men scored their second try and it was Cudjoe once more who got a lucky bounce from a Pryce kick and gathered to cross, making it 10-4 at half-time.
And the Giants scored their third try straight from the kick-off as Yates won a foot race with Coote from halfway to touch down, Pryce adding the extras.
Huddersfield extended their lead soon after as Leutele raced in to put them 20-4 in front.
McGillvary made the next try as his forceful run set up Cudjoe for a simple score to complete his hat-trick and Pryce’s third successful kick saw his side go further ahead.
Pryce added Huddersfield’s sixth with a little over 16 minutes left and then kicked the conversion to make it 32-4.
It was all too easy as McGillvary cut in from the right and evaded two tackles for try number seven - and his 200th for the club - and Pryce stretched the lead to 38-4. Rovers finally troubled the scoreboard for a second time with four minutes remaining when Storton forced his way over and Coote kicked the conversion.