A fourth hat-trick of the Super League season from David Hodgson was not enough to prevent Huddersfield slipping to a third successive defeat as leaders Wigan completed a quick-fire double. Fresh from their 28-10 victory over the Giants at Murrayfield a fortnight earlier, the Warriors won a seesaw scrap, 38-30, to take full advantage of defeats of Warrington and St Helens to open up a four-point lead.
Huddersfield matched their opponents try for try and twice held the lead. The prolific Hodgson, one of six former Wigan players in the Giants' matchday squad, scored half their six tries but Brett Hodgson, their skipper, managed just three successes from his six kicks at goal, compared to seven from eight by Pat Richards. Hull KR dusted themselves off from three successive drubbings to regain their place in the play-off places with a comprehensive 56-10 win over the Crusaders.
Brian McDermott admits Harlequins are gunning for a play-off spot after the Londoners moved up the table with a come-from-behind 40-24 win over Castleford. "The play-offs are a reality for us, no doubt about it," said the coach In the NRL, South Sydney stormed to a record-breaking 50-10 win over the Wests Tigers in Sydney yesterday as they cemented their place in the top five of the league.
John Sutton was in superb touch at five-eighth as he controlled the match, creating havoc in the Tigers' defence. "He was in everything," said John Lang, the Souths coach. "He's been playing quite well but not at his best form until today." Penrith climbed to second on the ladder when they beat Cronulla 34-14 in Penrith. St George Illawarra finished the weekend on top of the table following their 19-6 win over the Bulldogs on Friday night.
* Agencies