Huddersfield fall short despite late surge

Huddersfield Giants (6) 18

Tries: McGillvary, McQueen, Pryce

Goals: Pryce (3)

Drop-Goals:

Castleford Tigers (20) 26

Tries: Olpherts (2), Trueman, Mamo

Goals: Richardson (5)

Drop-Goals:

Huddersfield Giants: Lolohea; I. Senior, King, Cudjoe, McGillvary; Russell, Pryce; Trout, Levi, Wilson; Jones, McQueen, Yates

Interchange: Golding, Greenwood, Ikahihifo, Lawrence

Castleford Tigers: Eden, Olpherts, Fonua, Mamo, Faraimo; Trueman, Richardson; Griffin, Milner, Massey; Edwards, Mellor, Westerman 

Interchange: McShane, Lawler, Smith, Matagi

Despite a late fightback, Huddersfield Giants fell to defeat at the Jungle, losing 26-18 with tries from Jermaine McGillvary, Chris McQueen & Will Pryce.

Huddersfield Giants welcomed Toby King into the side as a straight swap for Ricky Leutele, with the Huddersfield Born centre making his debut for the club after joining from Warrington Wolves last week. 

Castleford would get the first score of the game courtesy of Derrell Olpherts, who finished a move stemming from a spilt pass into the hands of Jake Trueman. Danny Richardson would convert and with nine gone in the game, the Tigers had a six-point lead. Jake Trueman would add a four pointer to the Tigers lead after 14 minutes, breaking through the middle to score under the posts, with the Giants yet to find a foothold in the game with five minutes left in the quarter. 

A penalty from 20 metres out allowed Cas to extend their lead by the boot, as Danny Richardson hit his third from three in the first half, leaving the Giants 14-0 down as the first quarter came to a close.

Huddersfield dominated possession for the next ten minutes, but the Tigers would strike back with a back-to-front set that saw them able to get over for their third try of the afternoon, courtesy of Olpherts again despite the valiant defensive efforts of Jermaine McGillvary, whose attempted interception deflected into the Cas winger. Richardson added his fourth of the afternoon boot and the hosts had a twenty point lead. 

The Giants would wait until the 34th minute to get their opening try of the afternoon, but what a try it would be. A crossfield kick from Tui Lolohea would reach the hands of Jermaine McGillvary, and the Giants winger would find the tryline with inches to spare. Will Pryce would make the touchline from the wing to reduce the deficit to fourteen points, and the Giants had a much needed momentum boost. The two sides would go into the sheds at the half with the hosts enjoying a fourteen point lead. 

It would be the visitors who would strike first in the second half to extend their lead to eighteen points courtesy of Jake Mamo. Danny Richardson would pull his conversion wide, however, for his first missed kick of the game. 

The Giants would battle away at the Tigers line, and would finally get their reward in the 78th minute courtesy of Chris McQueen, who would score to reduce the deficit to eight points with just under 40 seconds remaining. Pryce would convert to give the Giants a chance to get make the game competitive in the final stages, but the Giants would be unable to make up the remaining deficit, and would fall to an eight point defeat. They'll face Salford Red Devils next at the Magic Weekend.