Dragons stun sorry Warriors
Scott Dureau produced another sensational performance as Catalan Dragons stunned champions Wigan 47-28 to record a second Engage Super League shock in a week.
Just five days after his heroics undid early pacesetters Warrington, the former Newcastle Knights half-back scored 23 points as the champions were overwhelmed at the DW Stadium.
Yet the Dragons' victory was down to more than Dureau's two tries, seven goals and a drop goal, as veteran Steve Menzies and Frederic Vaccari each touched down twice and Remi Casty and Damien Blanch also went over.
Former Huddersfield captain Brett Hodgson marked his return to the Galpharm Stadium with two first-half tries but the Giants had the last laugh with a comprehensive 29-10 victory that took them two points clear at the top.
Warrington went into the game as leaders but sorely missed the injured Lee Briers as they stumbled to a second successive defeat. It was Huddersfield's third consecutive win over their 2009 Challenge Cup conquerors and it provided further evidence of their genuine title credentials.
Most eyes were on Hodgson, the 2009 Man of Steel, but he was given a torrid time by his old team-mates and put firmly in the shade by his former understudy Scott Grix, the Giants full-back who has filled his predecessors' boots with aplomb.
St Helens made it six wins this season as they went to north Wales and saw off the Crusaders 34-18 with ease. The win put them within sight of the top spot, having moved up two places from fourth.
Within seven minutes, the Welshmen found themselves 12-0 down when they let livewire dummy-half James Roby rule the roost.
Hull coach Richard Agar was finally given a reason to smile as his side bought him some much-needed breathing space with a 34-24 win over Bradford. It was thought that another defeat would bring Agar's three-year tenure to an end and, after his side trailed 12-0 early on, that looked like a distinct possibility.
But his players backed up their claims that they are fully behind him and turned the situation around, while Agar must surely reserve special thanks for Danny Tickle who scored a try and kicked five goals from the touchline.
