Second rower Chris Nero scored a first-half double on his return to action to help spare Huddersfield's blushes in an error-filled Challenge Cup fifth-round encounter at the Galpharm Stadium.

Nero, who had missed the last two games with a leg injury, went over unchallenged on 24 and 38 minutes, with centre Michael De Vere twice converting as the Giants struggled to dispatch lowly minnows York.

The Knights, who won the National League Two title last season but have lost all five of their matches in National League One so far, took a deserved lead on 20 minutes through Matt Blaymire's try.

But York's game plan was disrupted when second rower Jason Golden was stretchered off with a serious injury soon after and the Giants steadily took control of the dour contest.

Nero's converted double meant the home side led 12-4 at the break and Huddersfield went on to score five unanswered tries after the break.

Solo efforts from James Evans and De Vere stretched the lead to 22-4 and then two tries in two minutes made Huddersfield's place in the quarter-finals safe.

Stand-off Paul March went over from Robbie Paul's kick through on 66 minutes with Stuart Donlan touching down soon after to give the scoreline a lop-sided look.

Donlan completed the scoring late on when he pounced on substitute Tom Hemmingway's kick through as Huddersfield closed out the game by exerting a lot of pressure near the York try line.

York, who were missing several regular first-teamers including Rob Spicer and Austin Buchanan, gave their all but found the Giants had enough in the tank to win comfortably.

Huddersfield, who beat York in the Challenge Cup quarter-finals two years ago, have now reached that stage of the competition in three of the last four seasons.