Castleford Tigers’ hoodoo in Huddersfield continued, as they slipped to a 22-0 defeat at the hands of a rejuvenated Giants side in a low-quality Super League encounter.
The Tigers have not won at the John Smith’s Stadium since 2009, and that record never really looked like being ended on a dreary night in West Yorkshire, as Castleford made it just one win from their opening five league matches.
It was only a week ago since the Tigers were dismantling Wigan Warriors 42-14 in a magnificent performance to pick up their first win of 2015, yet they went from the sublime to the ultimately ridiculous here, as they failed to trouble the scorers against a Huddersfield side who have now won their last two league matches in robust fashion.
Such is the ever-changing nature of an early season league table that the Giants, who were bottom of the league after the opening three rounds of Super League XX, now sit in the lofty heights of fifth thanks to this win, which was inspired by tough defending, patience and perseverance in a game which never really got going at any point.
“Sometimes attention can dip a little bit and it did there, but I’m really pleased with our defensive efforts all night,” said the Huddersfield coach, Paul Anderson. “Collectively we worked hard for each other and that’s the key.”
Even though the two points will prove precious to the Giants in the long run, this was not a match that will fill many highlight reels come the end of the season.Just six points in the opening half summed up how limp a game it was, but it was perhaps apt that former Castleford man Jamie Ellis scored the only try of the half. His sublime break left the Tigers defence in ribbons and he crossed to finally break the deadlock after 36 minutes of forgettable rugby.
The second period was not much of an improvement for both sides, even if Huddersfield did manage to extend their lead further and cement the win. Ukuma Ta’ai crossed four minutes after the break to double the lead, before Aaron Murphy went over for a try as the game entered the final quarter.
Jermaine McGillvary, arguably the best performer on the night, sealed a superb performance two minutes from the final hooter with a well-worked try to put the Giants on the up after a difficult start to 2015.
Castleford, though, they face a potentially huge match against Salford Red Devils next weekend. It is all a far cry from their hugely successful season in 2014, when they finished inside Super League’s top four.
“Our attitude and application just wasn’t there from start to finish. For it to be that bad across the whole of the game I find really difficult to take,” said the Castleford coach, Daryl Powell.
“It’s the worst performance since I’ve been here at Castleford.”
Huddersfield Grix; McGillvary, Cudjoe, Wardle, Murphy; Brough, Ellis; Huby, Robinson, Kopczak, Ferres, Hughes, Lawrence. Interchange Crabtree, Wood, Ta’ai, Johnson.
Tries: Ellis, Ta’ai, Murphy, McGillvary. Goals: Brough 3.
Castleford Dorn; Carney, Channing, Webster, Clare; Finn, Gale; Lynch, Moore, Millington, Holmes, Moors, Massey. Interchange Roberts, Cook, Wheeldon, Crossley.
