Huddersfield rediscovered their early-season form to condemn Wakefield to a fifth successive defeat as the Wildcats wilted badly on the hottest day of the year.

Winger David Hodgson scored three of his side's 10 tries as the Giants put their recent patchy form behind them in emphatic fashion with their biggest win of the season to reclaim fourth place in engage Super League.

The Wildcats went on an eight-match run without a win this time last year which ultimately cost them a play-off spot and their hopes for this season are in danger of disappearing just as fast.

Without the influential Danny Brough, who was suspended along with Danny Sculthorpe for a breach of club discipline, Wakefield lacked direction in attack and were woeful in defence as Huddersfield cut loose to run in seven second-half tries.

There was a sign of what was to come when the visitors went ahead with a third-minute try from second rower Danny Kirmond after Hodgson had palmed back Luke Robinson's high kick to the corner.

They could have been further ahead with Hodgson failing to make the most of a clean break and stand-off Kevin Brown tiring badly after an 80-metre run which allowed Jamie Rooney to haul him down just short of the line.

A run of five successive penalties enabled Wakefield to build pressure and it paid off on 23 minutes when full-back Matt Blaymire took an inside pass from stand-off Tony Martin to touch down, with Martin adding the goal.

But the Wildcats' lead lasted only five minutes as Huddersfield hit their first purple patch just before the break.

Loan signing Lee Mossop, who made a fine debut, was held up over the line before full-back Leroy Cudjoe's long pass found an unmarked Hodgson on the wing.

Then Hodgson was released again, courtesy of a neat inside pass by centre Paul Whatuira, and Cudjoe was in support to grab his first try of the season.

Cudjoe's first successful conversion made it 14-6 and Huddersfield thought they had scored again through Andy Raleigh but the try was disallowed for a forward pass in the build-up.

Any hope of a Wakefield comeback was snuffed out within 11 minutes of the restart with Huddersfield making the game safe with four tries in the third quarter.

Robinson got his half-back partner Brown through a gap to touch down, hooker Scott Moore intercepted a Jason Demetriou pass for a soft score and Whatuira and Hodgson both finished off a clean breaks by Robinson.

Centre Jamahl Lolesi then forced his way over from close range before Hodgson intercepted Martin's pass to race 40 metres and complete his second hat-trick of the season on 73 minutes.

Cudjoe sent Moore away for his second try and kicked his seventh conversion to complete the rout.