Hodgson the hero for Giants

Huddersfield got back to winning ways in the engage Super League with a workmanlike 24-0 triumph over a depleted Castleford.

David Hodgson was the hero for the hosts at the Galpharm Stadium, grabbing a hat-trick of tries to take his tally for the season to 10.

Jamahl Lolesi also crossed for the Giants while Brett Hodgson, back in the team after missing the shock loss to Salford on Monday, kicked four goals.

The Tigers battled bravely against their Yorkshire rivals but were well beaten in the end, meaning a tough week concluded with an eighth defeat in 2010.

Suspended duo

Already beset by injury problems, Castleford's preparations were hampered even further when Rangi Chase and Joe Westerman were withdrawn from the squad for disciplinary reasons just hours before kick-off.

Huddersfield did attempt to help out their beleagured visitors by conceding a plethora of early penalties, though none of them led to an opening score.

In the end it was the hosts who broke the deadlock in the 14th minute, David Hodgson getting his first which namesake Brett converted from out wide.

The opening try might have been expected to open the floodgates, yet the determined Tigers were not willing to concede points without putting up a fight.

Despite clever kicks from Danny Brough forcing goal-line drop-outs on three separate occasions, the Giants were unable to find their way across the line again before the half-time hooter.

There was further frustration for Nathan Brown's side at the start of the second period before Brett and David Hodgson combined for a second try, the former's cut-out pass sending the latter to the line out on the left flank.

Brett Hodgson added the conversion from close to the touchline before showing his worth at the other end of the field, the full-back producing a crucial tackle on Ryan McGoldrick just when Castleford looked certain to cross.

They came even closer to getting off the mark on the following set of six, Michael Cooper having the ball stripped away by Michael Lawrence as he reached out to plant the ball down.

Troubled Tigers

That proved to be the last real opportunity for the troubled Tigers, who were also beaten by Wakefield and St Helens over a tough Easter weekend.

Hodgson completed his hat-trick with an easy run-in after a number of defenders had been sucked in-field, allowing the England international to canter away and complete the fifth treble of his career.

A fourth Huddersfield try followed on the opposite wing for Jamahl Lolesi, who only had to catch Kevin Brown's pass and then slide over in the corner.

Brett Hodgson completed his perfect night with the boot by adding his fourth conversion, all of them tough, to round out the scoring in a below-par contest.