Huddersfield Giants carried on their great form of late as they beat Castleford Tigers 28-0 and worsen the Fords relegation fears.
A Sam Halsall hat-trick, coupled with tries from Leroy Cudjoe and Chris McQueen were enough to secure the two points for Ian Watson’s men; however Andy Last’s side now find themselves bottom of the Super League table.
Castleford Tigers faced Huddersfield Giants tonight in a must win game for the Fords. The home side had lost their last four matches coming into the game tonight; however a win would add some much needed breathing room between themselves and Wakefield Trinity at the foot of the table.
It would be a tough challenge for Andy Last’s side though, as the visitors have won their previous three games. Could the Fords get that much needed daylight at the foot of the table? Or would Ian Watson’s men bring more misery to the Jungle? It was building up to a tasty encounter.
The Giants made the brighter start. They threatened to take an early lead, but Jake Connor’s kick was dealt with well by Alex Mellor. The Giants would come back quickly though. They dragged the Fords behind their own goal-line to earn a repeat set, and this effort helped them get their first points.
A flowing move from right to left found the ball in Sam Halsall’s hands, and the winger slid over in the corner. Olly Russell was unable to add the extras, however the Giants led 4-0. It was Jake Connor again who provided the crucial assist to Halsall, his third in as many games.
The Tigers needed a response, and they nearly got it through Jack Broadbent. Gareth Widdop danced around the Giants defence to put in a grubber kick, however an awkward bounce took it away from Broadbent’s outstretched hand. A Giants knock-on gifted the Tigers an opportunity, however they couldn’t make the field position count.
They would later rue this missed opportunity, as Leroy Cudjoe extended the visitors lead. The powerful forward raced home following a great run from Russell to give the Giants an eight point advantage. Russell was on hand to add the extras and the Giants now led by 10.
Jake Connor’s boot has been a huge weapon for the Giants in their recent turn of form, and it very nearly came to good use again. The full-back lofted the ball high into the air on the last tackle, and following an Alex Mellor knock-on, the ball found itself in Ash Goulding’s hands; but the powerful winger was held up over the line.
A swift break from Tui Lolohea turned defence into attack for the visitors, and they would turn this into yet more points. ‘Try machine’ Chris McQueen put his long limbs to good use as he reached out and dotted the ball down to score his side’s third try. Russell was unable to kick the conversion; however the Giants had a very comfortable 14-0 lead going into half-time.
Following a fairly frantic opening 40, the second-half started slowly. Both teams threatened their opponents line; however the Giants would eventually add their fourth.
In similar fashion to the first try, a move from right to left got the ball to Jake Connor, who linked up with Sam Halsall to send the winger over in the corner for his second try. Olly Russell missed a tricky conversion, however the Giants led by 18 points.
The Giants would turn the pressure up even more in the following exchanges. Jake Bibby nearly latched onto a grubber from Jake Connor, Matty English was held up over the line and Leroy Cudjoe was stopped just short of the whitewash; but they couldn’t find a breakthrough.
In the dying embers of the game, Ash Goulding broke from his own half to set up a great opportunity for the Giants to score, which they gleefully took. Leroy Cudjoe burst through a tackle and threw a basketball pass into the grateful grasp of Sam Halsall for his hat-trick try. Russell couldn’t convert from out wide.
The final nail in the coffin came from former Tiger Adam Milner. A swift move through the middle found Matty English with the ball, and he executed a simple two-on-one to send Milner over for the sixth try. Olly Russell slotted the conversion in front of the sticks to make it 28-0 and wrap off an impressive win for the Giants.
For the Giants, they carry on their impressive form of late, however this defeat leaves Castleford bottom of the table for the first time this season. They now turn their attention to the grudge match with Wakefield.
