Cudjoe hat-trick keeps Brown's Giants top two hopes alive
Mon July 27, 2009
Source: [www.superleague.co.uk](http://www.superleague.co.uk)
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Leroy Cudjoe grabbed a hat-trick as Huddersfield Giants destroyed Catalans Dragons 36-12 to record their fifth straight win and keep alive their hopes of claiming a top-two finish in the engage Super League.
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The wing's treble took him into double figures for the season and ensured he went home with the match ball after this seven-try demolition job.
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The Dragons led through Clint Greenshields' try but Huddersfield hit back with a brace from Cudjoe and scores from Brett Hodgson and Darrell Griffin to lead 20-12 at the break.
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Wing David Hodgson and forward Simon Finnigan touched down in the second half before Cudjoe crossed again as Nathan Brown's men sent out an ominous warning to St Helens ahead of the forthcoming Carnegie Challenge Cup semi-final between the sides.
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The Giants have made undeniable progress under Brown this season but they were still waking up when Catalans forged ahead inside the second minute.
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Thomas Bosc and Greg Bird combined to find Greenshields and he sold the Huddersfield defence a delightful dummy to waltz through for a try which Bosc converted.
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Yet the response from the Giants could not have been much more emphatic.
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They were rewarded in the seventh minute when Brett Hodgson expertly palmed Liam Fulton's pass out to Cudjoe and he touched down in the right corner.
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Brett Hodgson could not add the extras but, with Kevin Brown and Luke Robinson dovetailing effectively at half-back, the Giants continued to probe.
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In the 12th minute, Brett Hodgson showed impressive agility to arch himself into position to touch down in the right corner following a penalty which saw Greenshields sin-binned for persistent holding down.
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Brett Hodgson again failed to convert but his side were utterly dominant and carved out a third try midway through the half.
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Brown found Griffin making strides on the left-hand side of the field and he barged his way over the line.
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Shortly before the half-hour mark, a fourth score arrived as Scott Moore's clever grubber kick was pounced on by Cudjoe in the right corner.
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The Dragons refused to surrender and three minutes later Dimitri Pelo went over in the left corner for a try which Bosc converted with aplomb.
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The pendulum swung back towards Huddersfield nine minutes after the break when David Hodgson squeezed over in the left corner and namesake Brett again added the extras.
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Eight minutes later Finnigan touched down after a neat grubber from Robinson, whose fine pass sent Cudjoe over the line for his hat-trick in the right corner with five minutes remaining.
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Brett Hodgson ended the game with four goals from seven attempts as the Giants ran out emphatic winners.