Hunslet, promoted to the Championship through last year’s play-offs, opened the scoring and were only 12-6 adrift at half-time, but Giants made their full-time fitness tell in the second period with Huddersfield running out 34-6 winners.
A try soon after the break settled their nerves and Hunslet were unable to get past half-way as Huddersfield forced them into a succession of errors.
In front of a crowd of just 985, the home side gave a debut to former Challenge Cup runners-up Kevin Larroyer and Greg Eden, who opened the scoring after eight minutes.
Half-back Matty Beharrell put up a high kick which Giants winger Elliot Wallis spilt and winger Eden – who had a spell with Huddersfield – reacted quickly to swoop over.
Beharrell added the extras and Hunslet were ahead until the end of the first quarter when Harry Rushton powered in from close range. Nice hands across the line ended with Adam Swift crossing at the corner soon afterwards.
Liam Rush converted both and improved Wallis’ close-range interception at the start of the second half before going off after being hurt in a huge tackle by Australian stand-off Lachlan Hanneghan.
Tui Lolohea stepped up to create tries for Jake Bibby and Swift, with a clever kick and then a lovely pass over the top, and Joe Greenwood scored Giants’ sixth and final try, two of the last three being goaled by George Flanagan.
Hunslet RLFC: Watson, Turner, Booth, Jowitt, Eden, Hanneghan, Beharrell, Hallas, Whitmore, Larroyer, Wood, Welham, Syme. Subs Berry, Roberts, O’Hanlon, Webb-Campbell.
Huddersfield Giants: Gagai, Swift, Bibby, Hewitt, Wallis, Lolohea, Rush, Wilson, Woolford, Burgess, Ruston, Greenwood, Golding. Subs Flanagan, Billington, Bibby, Rogers.
Referee: Tom Grant.
Safely through to the next round of @TheChallengeCup! 🤛#Since1895 | @WOMAGGroup pic.twitter.com/QuEdwFbdU3
— Huddersfield Giants 🐮🔔 (@Giantsrl) February 9, 2025
