Huddersfield Giants 18 Widnes Vikings 36

WIDNES went to the top of the First Utility Super League table with a comprehensive 36-18 win over Huddersfield Giants at the John Smith's Stadium.

Wingers Stefan Marsh and Corey Thompson registered a brace of tries apiece as the Vikings ran in seven tries to three.

Widnes opened the scoring on 12 minutes when second row Chris Dean crashed in from a Rhys Hanbury short ball with the latter adding the extras.

A Lloyd White 40/20 kept the Vikings on the front foot and the pressure told when Kevin Brown's trademark cut-out pass presented left winger Marsh with a run-in.

It looked like the Giants had defended the next set well but fullback Aaron Murphy fumbled Brown's bomb and Charly Runciman accepted the gift and strolled behind the sticks to make it 16-0.

Joe Mellor broke clean through but couldn't connect with Chris Bridge inside the Gaints '20' and the home side immediately went up the other end and pulled a six-pointer back as Michael Lawrence crossed.

With three minutes of the first half remaining, Huddersfield's Nathan Mason was sin-binned under the 'totting-up' principle and Widnes quickly capitalised as substitute Macgraff Leuluai crashed over under the posts from first receiver.

A 22-6 lead was handy enough but when the Giants kicked the second half restart out on the full, they were asking for more trouble.

Slick handling from Brown, Hanbury and Runciman sent Marsh in for his second try and on 47 minutes a routine overlap on the other side allowed Thompson to dive in at the flag. Hanbury's superb touchline conversion gave his side a 32-6 advantage.

Larne Patrick hit a nice flat ball to register a converted try for Huddersfield and Widnes were twice denied tries in quick succession for forward passes with Eamon O'Carroll and Mellor the unfortunate recipients.

However, it was third time lucky on 65 minutes when Bridge's flick out the back door enabled Thompson to cross for his second score.

With three minutes remaining the Giants scored a consolation try through former St Helens winger Jamie Foster who added the goal himself.

Huddersfield: Murphy; McGillvary, Cudjoe, Wood, Foster; Connor, Ellis; Rapira, Hinchcliffe, Johnson, Ta'ai, Lawrence, Patrick. Subs: Smith, Leeming, Mason, Roberts.

Widnes: Hanbury; Thompson, Bridge, Runciman, Marsh; Mellor, Brown; O'Carroll, White, Dudson, Dean, Houston, Cahill. Subs: Whitley, Manuokafoa, Leuluai, Heremaia.

Half-Time: 6-22

Referee: J Child

Attendance: 5,183