Huddersfield beat Castleford 24-16 in a controversial Super League clash
Last Updated: 22/05/15 10:00am
Huddersfield withstood a tremendous fightback from Castleford to secure a 24-16 victory that strengthens their hold on the coveted fourth place in Super League.
Inspired by England forward Brett Ferres - in front of watching national coach Steve McNamara, back in the country on a whistle-stop trip – Huddersfield cruised into an 18-4 half-time lead.
But they were forced to sweat after the Tigers clawed their way back to within two points and it took a controversial close-range try from prop Eorl Crabtree seven minutes from the end to settle their frayed nerves.
The outcome was always going to hinge on which team responded best to their disappointing exit from the Challenge Cup, and it was clear that the Giants were the hungrier side.
Castleford created the first scoring chance but returning winger Denny Solomona's try was disallowed for a knock-on and the visitors went on to dominate most of the first half.
Ferres, a former Castleford player, looked certain to score until having the ball knocked from his grasp but from the next set another Tigers old boy, prop Craig Huby, took hooker Kruise Leeming's pass to force his way over for the game's first try.
Brough kicked the first of his four goals and then hoisted a "bomb" to the corner which Solomona could only knock down into the path of Huddersfield centre Aaron Murphy to touch down on the 150th appearance of his career.
Purple patch
A succession of penalties enabled Castleford to enjoy a purple patch and centre Jake Webster burst through the attempted tackle of Scott Grix and Jake Connor to touch down.
Luke Gale, needing six points to bring up 1,000 in his career, was wide the conversion attempt and watched his side fall further behind on the stroke of half-time when Giants' powerful forward Ukuma Ta'ai powered his way through some flimsy defence for a third try, moments after entering the action from the bench.
Ben Roberts was denied a try within three minutes of the restart when Leeming managed to get an arm under the ball but three minutes later dummied his way over from 30 metres out for a solo score.
Gale converted the try and he was also on target on 65 minutes after skipper Michael Shenton had superbly wrong-footed the visitors defence to cross for a third try.
Any hope of completing the comeback was snuffed out, however, when Crabtree used his brute force to reach the line. It looked like he had used a double movement however video referee Ben Thaler, not for the first time, gave the tight decision in favour of the visitors.
