Betfred Super League
Huddersfield (36) 42
Tries: Halsall 2 Rogers, Wrench 2, Hewitt, Dunford Goals: Flanagan 7
Catalans (0) 20
Tries: Condon 2, Darrelatour, Staines Goals: Sexton 2
Huddersfield Giants marked the announcement of their move to Dewsbury from next season by cruising past Catalans Dragons to register their third successive Super League win.
Huddersfield let nearly 9,000 fans into the Accu Stadium for free to hear the news at half-time and six first-half tries made it a party atmosphere, scores from Fenton Rogers, Connor Wrench, Sam Hewitt, Zane Dunford and two from Sam Halsall bringing a 36-0 interval lead.
Huddersfield went flat after the announcement, which received a mixed reception from fans at the Accu, and Catalans – who had Franck Maria deservedly sent off for a high tackle – responded after the break through a Ben Condon double, and further tries from Leo Darrelatour and Charlie Staines.
Wrench scored a seventh try for Huddersfield, who remain bottom despite the rousing win but are showing signs of progress under Aussie head coach Jim Lenihan, who was appointed in May.
Huddersfield’s target is to avoid collecting the wooden spoon and they are desperate to still be a Super League club when they move to Dewsbury next year.
The hosts were ahead in the fourth minute when Halsall marked his return after nearly four months out with a partial Achilles tear by intercepting the ball and running from deep inside his own half to score under the posts.
Rogers powered over for his first try of the season after eight minutes before Halsall touched down in the left corner for his second score of the afternoon.
Huddersfield and their fans were having fun in the sun and they celebrated their fourth try after 21 minutes when they turned over possession in their own half and Wrench ran away to score.
This was uncharted territory for Huddersfield and on 31 minutes Hewitt grounded Tui Lolohea’s kick for his first score of the season before Dunford powered over from close range for their sixth try a minute before half-time.
The announcement of the move to Dewsbury seemed to deflate the atmosphere for the second half and John Cartwright’s Catalans finally showed what they can do.
Condon crashed over underneath the posts before Wrench intercepted the ball and ran most of the length of the pitch for his second score for Huddersfield.
Catalans were reduced to 12 men when Maria was sent off for a reckless challenge on George King on 61 minutes but, incredibly, the French side went up through the gears to score three unanswered tries.
Condon showed great strength to score his second try before Darrelatour went over in the right corner and Staines bagged their fourth try five minutes from time.