Giants edge past Tigers

Castleford's strong start to the Super League season suffered a dent after Huddersfield Giants scored a 26-24 victory at the Jungle.

Played in a swirling wind, the match was an end-to-end, breathless affair - the final scoreline reflecting the fact that either side could have taken the points.

Having scored in the first minute through Jamahl Lolesi, the Giants opened up an eight-point advantage early in the second half when David Hodgson completed his hat-trick.

However, the home side, who had taken the lead in the first-half thanks to tries from James Evans and Craig Huby, came back to level when the latter touched down his second and Brett Ferres - who also bagged a brace - went over.

Indeed, with both sides scoring five tries in all, the match was settled thanks to Brett Hodgson proving marginally more adept at judging the blustery conditions than kicking counterpart Kirk Dixon.

The Giants made a stunning start and went ahead after only 23 seconds - the Tigers struggling to deal with a kick-off which hung in the air on the wind.

Scott Moore charged through to collect the ball before Kevin Brown played the final pass which set up Lolesi.

Response

Brett Hodgson converted and the home side set about finding a response. A chance came in the fifth minute but the final pass to Evans - who knocked on anyway - was forward.

Castleford had an intent about them, however, and it was little surprise when, following a break from Richard Owen on the left wing, Evans crossed in the right-hand corner four minutes later.

Dixon kicked the extras and did the same when the confident-looking Castleford extended their lead two minutes later - prop Huby crashing through under the posts.

It was against the run of play that the Giants responded soon after but their try was nonetheless deserved - a sublime crossfield kick from Brown teeing up David Hodgson to charge through on the left-hand flank.

The wind mitigated against Brett Hodgson's conversion attempt - as it did in the 19th minute when the full-back failed to deal with a high ball and gave away a goal line drop out.

They failed to make the set count though - Leroy Cudjoe holding up Michael Shenton after the latter crossed.

The 12-10 scoreline reflected the fact that Castleford had, on the balance, enjoyed more of the possession at this stage.

However, they should have gone further ahead after 27 minutes - Ferres failing to ground the ball properly after crossing in the left-hand corner.

Brown could well have put the Giants ahead three minutes later - the centre knocking on instead when running on to a high kick off the last tackle.

The chances were certainly coming thick and fast - Ferres knocking on deep in Giants territory moments later - but as half-time approached it was the visitors who seized the initiative as David Hodgson overlapped for his second on the left flank.

Namesake Brett misjudged the wind but, 14-12 up at the interval, Huddersfield's defence proved more adept at dealing with the kick-off at the start of the second-half than their opponents had.

The two linked up for a break which perhaps should have led to the Giants' fourth try in the 47th minute; however, Brown's kick to the corner was too strong for Michael Lawrence.

Pressure

Momentum was now firmly with the visitors and David Hodgson's hat-trick came, again on the left-hand overlap, after a break from Cudjoe through the middle.

Brett Hodgson had no problem converting with a tail wind and, with his side eight points clear, the Tigers set about applying pressure in their attempts to close the gap.

The Giants' defence stood firm for a good 20 tackles before Huby crossed for his second in the 57th minute.

Dixon joined Brett Hodgson in failing to judge the wind but Castleford's comeback was complete just short of the hour when Ferres crossed on the left-hand flank.

The conversion was again missed but the scores were by now level - Owen coming inches short of handing Castleford the lead two minutes later following a last-gasp tackle from Brett Hodgson.

However, the topsy turvy nature of the game continued when the latter made a lunge under Castleford's posts three minutes later - the full-back also converting.

With Cudjoe sin-binned, Ferres then went over for his second - Dixon again missing the conversion - as Castleford attempted to exploit their man advantage.

But they could not and Huddersfield held on at the death - the game finally settled in their favour when Huby was penalised in the closing seconds for a high tackle.