Huddersfield produced a stunning victory against the odds to reach their first Challenge Cup final for 44 years.

With a magnificent display that served as a glorious reminder of their halcyon days, Huddersfield came up with their best 80 minutes of the season to book a trip to Twickenham.

Their clash with Super League leaders St Helens on August 26 will be a repeat of the Wembley final in 1953 when the Fartowners last lifted the famous trophy.

Up to a fortnight ago, Huddersfield were battling against relegation but they made a mockery of the League standings to run last year's runners-up ragged in a memorable semi-final at Odsal.

Jon Sharp's men were inspired brilliantly by Australian hooker Brad Drew, the man of the match, while second rower Chris Nero and winger Stuart Donlan grabbed two tries apiece and centre Michael De Vere finished with 14 points.

The victory was especially sweet for evergreen scrum-half Robbie Paul, who revelled on his return to Bradford and will relish a sixth Challenge Cup final appearance with the born-again Fartowners.

Leeds were actually on course for their fifth final in eight years when they scored the game's first try but the Rhinos looked strangely out of sorts throughout and a third successive defeat will have the alarm bells ringing at Headingley.

Tony Smith's men badly missed the penetrative running of Danny McGuire, who failed to recover from a shin injury, while Huddersfield kept the shackles on livewire scrum-half Rob Burrow.

The Giants, humiliated 46-6 in their last semi-final by St Helens two years ago, looked more energised from the start, as they kept the Rhinos pinned inside their own half with some aggressive defence.

Two early knock-ons by Great Britain forward Jamie Peacock, back on his Odsal stamping ground, and a nightmarish performance by full-back Lee Smith summed up Leeds' shoddy first-half display.

Smith put his side under enormous pressure by twice fumbling high kicks from Huddersfield captain Chris Thorman which led directly to one try and a disallowed effort.

Giants winger Stuart Donlan had a score ruled out by video referee David Campbell, who decided that Paul Smith gathered a loose ball from an offside position, and then was hauled into touch by Burrow after being freed by the impressive Chris Nero.

It was very much against the run of play when Leeds opened the scoring on 15 minutes, with centre Chev Walker working his winger Scott Donald over at the corner despite a hint of obstruction in midfield.

When Kevin Sinfield's conversion went in off an upright, it might have been a sign that it was not going to be Huddersfield's day but their response was swift and decisive.

Hugely-impressive full-back Paul Reilly made the running for Nero to cross on 20 minutes and five minutes later Donlan took advantage of a moment's hesitation to win the race to Thorman's grubber kick to the corner.

Michael De Vere improved both tries to put the Giants 12-6 ahead and they almost scored against when big Eorl Crabtree was held up on his back over the line.

It was 30 minutes before Huddersfield came up with their first handling error but it was to prove a costly mistake, with Leeds setting up the position for substitute Willie Poching to bounce off the meek challenge of Thorman to grab a soft try.

Sinfield's second goal tied the scores at the break but Huddersfield were undaunted and went back in front 12 minutes into the second half.

Substitute Steve Snitch re-gathered possession from Drew's kick over the Leeds defence and Robbie Paul was on hand to send Nero over by the posts for his second try on 52 minutes.

And it got even better for the underdogs seven minutes later when Donlan, too, claimed his second touchdown, this time after a jinking run from Paul and a clever long pass from Thorman.

De Vere was off target for the first time but Huddersfield had a 10-point cushion and the Australian drove another nail into Leeds' coffin with two penalties as the Giants tightened their grip.

And it was De Vere who had the final say when he followed up his own kick in the dying minutes to score the last try to add to his five goals.