Shrinking Giants cut down

Huddersfield's slump continued as they crashed 52-6 at Castleford - their seventh defeat in eight Stobart Super League games.

The Giants were completely outplayed by Castleford, who produced by far their best performance this season just six days after being well beaten at fellow strugglers Widnes.

New half-back signing Jamie Ellis, who has joined the Tigers from Hull, landed 10 goals from 11 kicks and grabbed a try on his debut.

Richard Owen, who bagged two tries, was also an important contributor for Castleford on his return from suspension.

Luke Robinson and David Fa'alogo, who missed Huddersfield's 28-24 defeat at Hull last week, returned for the Giants in place of Eorl Crabtree and Dale Ferguson.

With skipper Danny Orr pulling the strings, the Tigers made the early running.

They went ahead after four minutes when Orr and Owen created an opening for winger James Clare who, after stumbling as he caught Owen's pass, regained his feet to force his way over at the corner for his first try at senior level.

The Giants replied seven minutes later when Danny Brough's superbly-judged high kick created a try for Leroy Cudjoe who plucked the ball out of the air to score.

Brough's conversion put the Giants 6-4 up but that was the highlight of an otherwise dismal afternoon and it was shortlived.

Castleford looked much sharper in attack than they had in recent weeks and regained the lead when forwards Craig Huby and Grant Millington cleverly sent in centre Jordan Thompson for an 18th minute try that Ellis goaled.

Castleford's defence was also far better than of late and they did well to survive a spell of Huddersfield pressure in which Fa'alogo was halted just short of the try line.

The Tigers then increased their lead with two tries in five minutes.

Slick passing by Orr, Ellis and Owen sent in winger Nick Youngquest and Ellis converted from the touchline.

Rocked

The Giants were quickly rocked again when Millington fed Owen who regathered his own neat kick and dummied his way over, with Ellis again tagging on the extras.

Huddersfield missed a gilt-edged chance when Robinson made a delightful break but substitute Tommy Lee was unable to catch his pass with the try line wide open.

Youngquest then rescued the Tigers on the stroke of half-time by intercepting Brough's pass near his own try line.

Castleford edged further ahead early in the second-half.

Ellis made it 26-4 by two penalty goals in two minutes, the first when the Giants were penalised for holding down and the second when they were offside.

Despite the promptings of half-backs Brough and Robinson, Huddersfield struggled to find any fluency, with their handling often letting them down.

Castleford's Adam Milner was held up over the line before Ellis kicked another penalty.

They shot further ahead in the 62nd minute when Josh Griffin intercepted Kevin Brown's pass and raced 95 yards to score.

Owen then grabbed his second try, Milner forced his way over from acting half close to the line and Ellis also crossed as the Tigers passed the half century late on.