CASTLEFORD TIGERS continued their woeful start to the 2023 Super League season with their 11th loss in 13 games to an improved Huddersfield Giants side.
Huddersfield broke the deadlock in the third minute as Gareth Widdop spilled a towering Theo Fages kick, and, after spreading the ball wide, Esan Marsters crossed. Jake Connor converted for a 6-0 lead.
Connor added a penalty shortly after as Castleford invited pressure on their own line with five lost balls inside the opening 15 minutes with the Giants’ fullback slotting over another two-pointer around the midway point in the half to make it 10-0.
After finally getting into the grind, the Tigers had something to show for their efforts with Alex Mellor going in off a scrum play. Gareth Widdop missed the conversion though as Huddersfield led 10-4 after half an hour.
Leading 10-4 at half-time, the Giants almost cracked at the start of the second forty minutes but kept their line intact before crossing through Innes Senior in the corner. Connor couldn’t convert, however, as Huddersfield held a 14-4 lead.
It was effectively game over as Kevin Naiqama ran onto a short Fages pass on 56 minutes to cross under the posts. Connor couldn’t miss in front of the sticks as the Giants led 20-4.
Try as they might, Castleford were wasteful and had some opportunities to punish their opponents only to lose the ball, but the Giants weren’t on fire either. Ian Watson’s men did, however, do enough to take the two points.
Huddersfield Giants
6 Tui Lolohea
5 Jake Bibby
4 Kevin Naiqama
3 Esan Marsters
25 Innes Senior
1 Jake Connor
7 Theo Fages
8 Chris Hill
9 Nathan Peats
15 Matty English
21 Leroy Cudjoe
12 Chris McQueen
13 Luke Yates
Substitutes
10 Joe Greenwood
16 Harry Rushton
18 Seb Ikahihifo
19 Adam O’Brien
Tries: Marsters (3), Senior (49)
Goals: Connor 4/5
Castleford Tigers
6 Gareth Widdop
5 Bureta Faraimo
12 Alex Mellor
3 Jordan Turner
26 Elliot Wallis
17 Jack Broadbent
7 Jack Miller
23 Suaia Matagi
9 Paul McShane
14 Nathan Massey
11 Kenny Edwards
8 George Lawler
13 Joe Westerman
Substitutes
20 Muizz Mustapha
25 Brad Martin
28 Sam Hall
32 Liam Watts
Tries: Mellor (28)
Goals: Widdop 0/1
