Huddersfield Giants comfortably beat Catalans Dragons to end losing streak

Aaron Murphy: Continued his fine form with two tries

In-form winger Aaron Murphy scored twice in a seven-try romp as Huddersfield secured a 38-14 Super League victory against Catalans Dragons to end a three-match losing run.

Murphy, player of the month for February and March, went over in the left corner on 15 minutes from Jake Connor's pass.

He was then on hand when Ukuma Ta'ai, who also scored twice, caught and off-loaded a kick from Danny Brough on 37 minutes.

Former Wakefield Wildcats star Murphy, 27, has now scored six tries in his last five appearances.

Having fallen behind Catalans hit back to lead 8-6 - with scrum-half Scott Dureau bagging all of their points.

He scored a try on 21 minutes when Elliot Whitehead passed inside after a solo dash past two players split the Giants defence.

Dureau converted and then added a penalty goal on 24 minutes for a poor shoulder charge on him by Joe Wardle.

Wardle was restored to the Giants' line-up after being suspended for last week's defeat by St Helens for a dangerous throw on Ben Cockayne.

Huddersfield responded with three tries in 10 minutes at the end of the first half - and it could have been more.

Connor nearly put Murphy in again down the left on 27 minutes, while Leroy Cudjoe was held up on the right flank after Brough's break from deep.

In between Ta'ai pounced for a try when a Dragons defender fumbled a high kick from Brough on 30 minutes.

Scotland star Brough, whose kicking caused problems for the visitors all game, was at it twice more before half-time.

His kick led to Murphy's second try and then another Brough bomb was dropped on the hooter by a defender and Cudjoe pounced.

Brough, who took his tally to 58 points for the season with three earlier conversions, this time hit the post.

Huddersfield led 22-8 at the break, with the sides trading tries after the restart as Catalans narrowed the gap to 26-14.

Julian Bousquet scored a converted try on 45 minutes while Jermaine McGillvary went over at the other end eight minutes later.

There was controversy on 62 minutes when a simmering feud between Cudjoe and Willie Tonga boiled over.

The pair seemed to exchange words and former NRL star Tonga responded by appearing to headbutt Cudjoe right in front of referee Robert Hicks.

Tonga was sin-binned and Cudjoe got a verbal warning in the presence of Giants skipper Brough.

Huddersfield took full advantage of the extra man by running in two quick tries, first from Ta'ai a minute later and then Scott Grix on 65 minutes.

There was no further score, but Louis Anderson lost his temper late on as Huddersfield defensively shut the game down.