Deon Bird flew in for a hat-trick as Gateshead soared above the Giants to stay on course for a top-five finish.

The loose forward grabbed three tries in the space of 21 minutes either side of half-time to became the first Thunder player to score a hat-trick as hapless Huddersfield were once again outclassed.

They were not quite as bad as in their last outing - a Super League record 86-6 hammering at Leeds - but were always second best to workmanlike Thunder.

Huddersfield actually took the lead in the eighth minute when Bobbie Goulding kicked through for young centre Martin Gleeson to touch down.

And the Giants held a semblance of control until the 17th minute when winger Andy Cheetham was carried off with a neck injury.

Play was held up for seven minutes as Cheetham received treatment, and just 40 seconds after the action got under way again Bird got his first try after Matt Daylight was allowed to run 50 metres unchallenged before passing to Steve Collins who in turn set up Bird to finish the move off.

The impressive Tony Grimaldi and Bird again went over before the break and the Giants were beaten.

Collins, Bird and Will Robinson capitalised on more absent defence within the first eight minutes of the second half to give Thunder a 30-6 lead.

Huddersfield prop Nick Fozzard barged over on 61 minutes and winger Danny Arnold grabbed his 49th try in Super League 10 minutes later as Huddersfield found some respectability - but their fightback did not last long.

Six minutes from time Gareth Carvell touched down on his debut just three days after going to the North-East on loan from Leeds Rhinos.

And with three minutes remaining David Maiden put the finishing touches to a superb five-man move to bounce into the corner to take Thunder past 40 points for the first time in their brief history.

Huddersfield's defeat could have been more emphatic as full-back Ben Sammut missed four of his eight kicks at goal.