Giants thrash Robins
David Hodgson scored a hat-trick as Huddersfield inflicted a 30-0 home thrashing upon Hull KR at New Craven Park.
Last Updated: 21/02/10 6:27pm
Huddersfield have inflicted a 30-0 home thrashing upon Hull Kingston Rovers in their Super League meeting at New Craven Park.
The Robins finished last season just one place adrift of their opponents in fourth but on Sunday's evidence at least, they may find the going rather tougher than Nathan Brown's side this time around.
Hull KR, who handed a league debut to Kiwi centre Michael Ratu, were already 18-0 behind at the break after Shaun Lunt, David Hodgson and Larne Patrick all touched down - Brett Hodgson converting all three.
Justin Morgan's side did create chances - both sides had three clear-cut opportunities in the first half - but the difference between the two was that the Giants took theirs.
Attack
However, the visitors also had more variety in their kicking game from Kevin Brown and Luke Robinson.
Lunt opened the scoring in the eighth minute when he made the most of a large gap in the home defence from a Darrell Griffin play the ball.
David Hodgson crossed in the left corner on 22 minutes and six minutes later Patrick, who had just come off the replacements' bench, touched down.
The deficit Hull KR faced could have been even greater had Lunt not knocked on just before half time when it seemed easier to score.
Rovers' new signing, Aussie Test prop Joel Clinton, was introduced to the crowd at the interval before the home side went on the attack at the start of the second half.
A grapple tackle on Clint Newton gave them momentum but, pressing for the line, they ignored the more obvious route of playing into a gap on the inside.
Instead, Jake Webster made an extra pass out wide to Kris Welham - and the move came to nothing.
David Hodgson had a chance to virtually put the game beyond Rovers' reach in the 48th minute but his 50-metre break was ended by some desperate defending.
He was not to be denied five minutes later, however - Hodgson running almost the entire length of the pitch to score an interception try after Rovers had almost been on the Giants' line.
'Nilled'
However, Brett Hodgson's conversion attempt hit an upright and stayed out.
Rovers had another chance to put some points on the board just past the hour when Ben Cockayne's kick through was scrambled over the dead-ball line for a drop out.
They were unable to capitalise, however, as were the Giants when they forced another goal-line drop out with nine minutes to go, Cockayne having had the ball knocked out of his hand but still managing to touch it down.
David Hodgson completed his hat-trick in the 74th minute when he finished a move off down the left by touching down in the corner - Brett Hodgson albeit short with the conversion attempt.
The Giants then made it 30-0 in the 77th minute when Leroy Cudjoe touched down for an unconverted try.
Rovers' fans were heading for the exit a long before the final hooter, their side having been 'nilled' for only the second time since their promotion in 2006.
