MATCH REPORT | Castleford Tigers

Huddersfield Giants lost out to Castleford Tigers 12-30 on Saturday afternoon at the John Smith's Stadium.

After a disappointing result last time out at Headingley against the Rhinos, Luke Robinson has the luxury of Adam Swift and Zac Woolford at his disposal as both have returned from injury, with Liam Sutcliffe picking up an injury on his old stomping ground, Sam Halsall moves into centre as Swift retakes his place on the wing. Jacob Gagai returns to fullback as Kieran Rush starts in the halves. 

Returning from his ban, Oliver Wilson starts at prop. Club captain Leroy Cudjoe led the team from loose forward. Matty English accompanied Woolford by starting on the bench. Academy graduates Jacob Algar and Archie Sykes are left out.

On their first attacking set of the game the Tigers strike after two and a half minutes through former Giant Innes Senior, centre Zac Cini won the competition in the air and popped the ball down to the winger who went in untouched. Rowan Milnes’ kick sailed wide to leave the score at 0-4 in the favour of the visitors.

A quick response from the boys in claret and gold as Swift’s break fed full back Gagai sent the John Smith’s delirious. George Flanagan added the extras to take the score to 6-4 in favour of Luke Robinson’s men.

A very back and forth kind of game with Cas scoring the next try – however in the other corner to their last. A spiralling kick from Milnes was dropped by Gagai which gave Danny McGuire’s men the field position, then a mistake on his own line from Cudjoe allowed the Tigers to retain possession which allowed Castleford to swing the ball from left to right in front of their own fans for Josh Simm to score in the corner. Milnes’ successful conversion extended the visitors lead to 6-10.

A third try for the visitors with 14 left of the first half as another former Giant in Alex Mellor claimed a hanging kick to score in front of the travelling fans. Milnes kick was yet again successful, which took the score to 6-16.

With Giants picking up momentum and 33 minutes gone, things helped their case as Joe Westerman was sent to the sin bin for 10 minutes for a high shot. 

After ill-discipline on their line, Giants allowed Cas to extend their lead to a minimum of two converted tries with three minutes left on the clock through Milnes’ left boot. 6-18.

The second half only had to wait six minutes for its first score as a floated ball from Daejern Asi found Senior in the corner who dotted down for a four pointer. Milnes’ kick sailed through the uprights to take the score to 6-24.

Cas hit 30 points with 20 left of the game as fullback Tex Hoy found Milnes on a hard line who dotted the ball under the sticks. His conversion took the visitors to the 30 point mark. 6-30. 

A try through Oliver Wilson gave the Giants hope with 13 left on the clock. The prop hit a line and bulldozed his way over from close range. Flanagan’s two points took the score to 12-30. 

By Ben Sheard

Huddersfield Giants

Gagai, Carr, Halsall, Bibby, Swift, Rush, Flanagan Jr,  Burgess, Golding, Wilson, Hewitt, Greenwood, Cudjoe 

Interchanges 

Woolford, Bibby, English, Milne

Castleford Tigers

Hoy, I Senior, Cini, Wood, Simm, Asi, Milnes, Amone, Rimbu, Dezaria, Simbiken, Mellor, Lawler

Interchanges

Singleton, Westerman, Okoro, Salabio