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Posted: Friday 1st July 2022

Fords make it three in a row

Read our match report as the Tigers make it three victories in a row!

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Castleford Tigers extended their winning streak to three consecutive victories by taking another top three scalp in Huddersfield Giants at The Mend-A-Hose Jungle on Friday night.

Lee Radford made three alterations to the starting line up that took to the field in the Tigers’ previous game against Catalans Dragons. Adam Milner, Jake Mamo, and Greg Eden all made a return to the starting 13 to face the Giants.

Last weekend’s hero Danny Richardson booted the ball high to get the contest underway and the Fords were under pressure from the off after Eden was shoveled back behind the line for the Tigers to drop out. Giants tried their best to create an opening score, but Castleford kept them at arm’s length.

Huddersfield managed to build on their early pressure and looked to young standout Will Pryce to unlock the door and he almost did just that five minutes in. The stand-off fired a well-timed pass into Leroy Cudjoe five metres out, but the experienced centre was stopped narrowly short by some good scramble defence from the Tigers.

After absorbing a number of Giants attacks, Castleford’s first opportunity at the Huddersfield line came through an error from the visitors. Tui Lolohea found a pass too hot to handle inside his own half and Jake Trueman was in the right place to pick up the ball and race towards the line. The Tigers’ #6 kept his composure to find Derrell Olpherts on his shoulder and the winger duly ran in to open the scoring. Richardson caught his conversion perfectly to put Cas 6-0 up.

Just over 5 minutes later and the home side were in for their second try of the night. Trueman took matters into his own hands and charged through the middle of the field. The stand-off just kept running with Huddersfield defenders in his wake for the Wheldon Road end to erupt as Trueman sprinted over. Richardson was once again successful with his kick to add the two points and take Cas’ lead to 12-0 with 16 minutes on the clock.

Halfway through the first 40, whilst the home side were forcing the issue after an incredible 40/20 from Richardson, they were awarded a penalty within easy kicking distance of the posts. Castleford elected to go for the uprights and Richardson slotted his kick to push the Fords further ahead.

After some more solid defensive work from the Tigers, they turned defence into attack again to claim their third score. It was Trueman again who was the architect as his looping pass out wide got a touch off Jermaine McGillvary but fortunately bounced perfectly into the hands of Olpherts for the wing to power over for his brace. Richardson added the two points for the Tigers to sit 20-0 in front just after the half hour mark.

Castleford couldn’t keep Giants out before the break as Innes Senior kept the play alive on the last and played the ball to Lolohea who kicked wide to McGillvary. Olpherts scrambled across to try and stop the veteran winger, however after consulting the video referee, the try was given. Pryce converted for the scoreboard to read 20-6 as the players went into the sheds.

The Tigers had the first sniff of the opposition line in the opening stages of the second half. Michael Lawrence came out the line too quickly and was called offside for Richardson to then find touch. Suaia Matagi came within inches of scoring and Giants eventually managed to quell the danger after Richardson’s kick was collected on the last tackle.

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That didn’t deter Cas as they kept rolling forward and struck moments later. It looked as if Kenny Edwards was going to be wrapped up around 20 metres from the line, but the second-rower miraculously escaped the tackle and went one better by producing a delicious offload to Mamo. The Aussie marked his comeback to the squad by stepping on the gas and diving over to claim the hosts' fourth. Richardson hooked his kick wide with the Tigers lead at 24-6.

Ten minutes into the second period and the Tigers defence were called into action. Senior cut in from the wide left and managed to get away from Bureta Faraimo but was forced out of play. The referee saw an infringement in the play to give possession to Huddersfield, Seb Ikahihfo then made a dig but was held up and the Fords saw out the danger.

The Tigers nudged further ahead from the kicking tee when Giants were penalised inside their own half. Richardson decided to go for goal and the scrum-half made no mistake to add to their advantage.

As the tie ticked over the hour mark the visitors were still finding it difficult to penetrate Castleford’s stern defence as was shown when Senior decided to try his luck with a sprint down the left but was immediately stopped in his tracks by Mamo and Alex Mellor who smashed the wing off the field.

Giants kept pushing however and were aided by Cas captain Paul McShane being sent to the sin bin in the final ten minutes. Huddersfield’s desperation then stepped up a notch as they took the play right with Chris McQueen who was stopped short and his offload to McGillvary was spilt forward to the elation of the Wheldon Road end.   

As the game entered the final stages Huddersfield did get the score they were looking for with Pryce timing his pass to McQueen well for the second row to sprint over on the right-hand side. Pryce then collected the kicking tee and added the two points to close them within 14 with 3 minutes to go.

The visitors closed the gap further after being awarded a penalty. It was Luke Yates who made a marauding break forward and found Pryce who ran in unopposed. The half-back then added the two points but it was too late for a comeback as the Tigers took home their third victory in a row.

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Full-time: Castleford Tigers 26–18 Huddersfield Giants

 

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

Interchanges: McShane, Lawler, Smith, Matagi

Tries: Olpherts x2, Trueman, Mamo

Goals: Richardson (4/5)

Sin bin: McShane

 

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

Interchanges: Golding, Lawrence, Greenwood, Ikahihfo

Tries: McGillvary, McQueen, Pryce

Goals: Pryce (3/3)

 

Golden gamble winning: 21038