Huddersfield down Leeds to lift off-colour Watson

In-form Huddersfield Giants pepped up off-colour boss Ian Watson with a five-try 30-16 victory to end Leeds Rhinos' mini revival under new coach Rohan Smith.

Watson watched fourth-placed Giants' 10th league win in isolation due to sickness; the only spectator at the Fantastic Media Stand end of the ground.

Only briefly did the visitors threaten to deny Huddersfield back-to-back wins after their Challenge Cup final heartbreak against Wigan.

Trailing 22-0 after 27 minutes, they recovered to 22-10 with a quarter of the contest remaining.

But a sixth win in seven games was all but confirmed for Huddersfield when Will Pryce slotted a 63rd-minute penalty to restore Huddersfield's three-score lead.

Former St Helens and Hull forward Josh Jones then smashed his way over to put the result out of Rhinos' reach.

When the sides met in April they played out only the second Super League game to finish in a tie after golden point.

Anything close to a repeat of that 20-all stalemate was never on the cards due to Giants' blistering start.

By half-time the contest was as good as over: Giants scoring four tries, including an 80-metres interception by Lance Todd Trophy winner Chris McQueen to lead 22-4.

Leeds' pain could have been greater but Pryce missed three shots at goal.

The Rhinos, so impressive in beating Warrington last time out, were woeful until two seconds from the break when skipper Ash Handley finished off a Blake Austin mid-field break and Richie Myler assist.

Handley's touchdown was the 94th for Leeds and the 100th of his career.

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Pryce's fourth-minute penalty was followed by tries by Ricky Leutele and Jermaine McGillvary after 12 and 20 minutes; both