Hull 18-46 Huddersfield: Gaints claim shock win in Super League Super 8s

Match stats: Hull 18-46 Huddersfield

Hull tries: Ellis (10), Connor (28), Griffin (64)
Goals: Sneyd (10,28,64)

Huddersfield tries: McIntosh (19,39), Gaskell (23,57,70), Mellor (31), Dickinson (51), Leeming (67)
Goals: Brough (23,31,39,44), Rankin (51,68,70)

Match report

Lee Gaskell helped ruin Gareth Ellis's big night out as Challenge Cup holders Hull FC suffered a 46-18 defeat to top-four hopefuls Huddersfield at the KCOM Stadium.

The former St Helens, Salford and Bradford star (pictured above) scored a hat-trick and winger Darnell McIntosh touched down twice after Ellis, in his 450th career game, gave Wembley-bound Hull an early advantage.

Lee Radford's Black and Whites played with next weekend's Challenge Cup final clearly on their minds as Huddersfield responded from their previous week's defeat at Hull's final opponents Wigan.

Hull started brightly enough by twice leading early on including Ellis's proud moment in his big match - two days after announcing his retirement at the end of the season.

However, with the pressure off Huddersfield set about making one last ditch attempt to reach the play-off semi-finals.

Gaskell was at the heart of their best attacks and even when kingpin Danny Brough exited with a second-half injury, Giants never lost their rhythm.

Huddersfield twice came from behind with four tries to deservedly lead 22-12 at half-time.

After Ellis celebrated his landmark appearance with the game's opening try after six minutes, Giants hit back with the first of McIntosh's two touchdowns.

Gaskell, the provider, then accepted Kruise Leeming's off load to race over under the posts for ex-Hull favourite Brough to get his goal tally up and running.

Jake Connor's acrimonious switch from West Yorkshire to West Hull hardly endeared himself to his former fans.

So, there was more pain when the full-back finished off a sweeping handling move in front of those same supporters to restore FC's advantage.

Huddersfield, though, kept exploiting the frail home defence. Centre Alex Mellor grabbed a rare try after 31 minutes before McIntosh swept over on the stroke of half-time.

Brough took his opening period tally to three goals to give Rick Stone's visitors a handy 10-point cushion.

The former Man of Steel's 44th-minute penalty further improved Huddersfield's position with the KCOM Stadium crowd reduced to virtual silence.

Giants were not finished and it was child's play for McIntosh to pick off a pass from new dad Mahe Fonua to set-up a fifth try. Substitute Tyler Dickinson eventually rumbled over with Jordan Rankin taking over kicking duties from the injured Brough.

Gaskell scored again after 58 minutes before Josh Griffin replied for a woefully out-of-sorts Hull side. There was never any chance of a comeback and hooker Leeming and Gaskell added the gloss on victory with further tries.

Match reaction

Hull coach Lee Radford on picking his team for the Challenge Cup final: "It has made my job super easy for one or two. This was down to attitude, real plain and simple. Though we competed well and played with plenty of structure in that first half, our indicator when we are on is our stinging defence.

"It took Danny Brough 46 minutes to kick from his own end which tells its own story. Huddersfield ran harder than we hit. And it is a really simple game when you break it down like that. Wembley is irrelevant. Wigan have won, Leeds have won and they are three points above us.

"I really hope we put some huge significance on the Leeds game the following Thursday. I am really focused on that game now."

Huddersfield head coach Rick Stone: "Let's just hope we keep performing and by the time the Super 8s finish, if we are close enough, we are good enough. A few weeks ago we played Hull here in a bit of a knock 'em down, drag 'em out affair.

"We learned a bit from that game and tried to play through them a bit more. We got some good results with that and the boys stayed at the plan which was nice. Our ball control was better and the result showed in the end."