Giants on course for Super League

Crabtree (left) grabbed a brace of tries

Northern Ford Premiership results

Huddersfield continued their dominance of the Northern Ford Premiership with a 50-10 win over rock-bottom Gateshead.

The Giants' latest victory came as coach Tony Smith agreed a new one-year contract.

Smith, who had been linked with several clubs including Australia's West Tigers, said: "I am ambitious to get to the very top in my chosen profession.

Smith wins BBC Sport Online award

"But if we can continue to build on the solid foundations in place at the Giants then this club knows no boundaries in its potential."

The form book pointed to a one-sided affair on Sunday, with the unbeaten Giants on course for a swift Super League return, and Gateshead yet to win a Premiership match this season.

Intercepted

An that was exactly how it turned out at the McAlpine Stadium, with Tony Smith's side running in 10 tries.

Eorl Crabtree, Chris Langley and Graeme Hallas each scored twice with Hefin O'Hare, Darren Turner, Paul White and Heath Cruckshank all going over once.

Steve McNamara kicked four goals and Langley added another.

Gateshead could only manage two tries through Chris Fletcher and Robin Peers, while Paul Thorman converted a penalty.

Second-placed Rochdale came a cropper in soggy conditions at Barrow, losing 15-8.

The Border Raiders made a stunning start when Darren Holt intercepted a pass before handing over to Jamie Marshall for a 90-metre breakaway try.

Paul Smith drew the Hornets level, but Shane Irabor put the home side back in front.

Narrow victory

Marshall added his second touchdown of the day and the scores were completed by a Holt drop goal.

Whitehaven pulled level on points with third-placed Leigh thanks to a 13-12 win at the Recreation Ground.

The two points were secured thanks to a drop goal four minutes from time by Mark Jackson after the Centurions had raced into an 8-0 lead.

Neil Turley kicked a penalty before converting a try by Paul Anderson to give Paul Terzis' side a good start.

Steve Kirkbride pulled a try back for the Cumbrian side before Anderson touched down again in first-half injury-time.

Coup de grace

Kirkbride kicked two penalties before Rob Jackson levelled the scores.

The home side had their tails up and edged a point in front when Mark Jackson applied the coup de grace.

Oldham put Hunslet to the sword with a 34-20 win, breaking clear of the home side in the second period after the first had ended with the Roughyeds just two points in front.

Mark Sibson scored the first try of the day for Oldham after two minutes but the Hawks came back with a brace from Bryn Powell.

Joe McNicholas and Joey Hayes restored the visitors' lead, but Hunslet refused to lie down and David Mycoe reduced the deficit on the stroke of half-time.

Rovers' boost

Tries from Gareth Barber, John Hough and John Braddish in the second half sealed the points for Oldham, with the Hawks grabbing a late consolation through Gareth Naylor.

Featherstone boosted their play-off hopes with a 34-20 triumph over Dewsbury.

Richard Chapman and Richard Newlove grabbed second-half tries for Rovers after the Rams went ahead with early tries from Jim Elston and Ryan Hardy.

Rovers struck back to lead 16-8 at half-time with three tries in 11 minutes from Jamie Rooney, Newlove and Neil Lowe.

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Northern Ford Premiership results:

Barrow 15-8 Rochdale
Featherstone 34-20 Dewsbury
Huddersfield 50-10 Gateshead
Hunslet 20-34 Oldham
Whitehaven 13-12 Leigh