Giants rue missed first-half chances

Apr 22 2003 By Chris Roberts, The Huddersfield Daily Examiner

The hooker, who was switched to scrum half following McNamara's withdrawal, appeared to have taken the wrong option as he was halted by Darren Rogers.

In his excitement at catching his man, the Castleford winger attempted to steal the ball off March rather than put him to ground.

That enabled the Giants man to wriggle free and finally send O'Hare racing to the line, much to the amazement of the home faithful and the anger of the visitors.

Costin's conversion attempt failed, but in the 29th minute a far better kick from the stand-off looked to have given Marcus St Hilaire a try in the corner, but the full-back was adjudged to have been offside.

It was a decision which lifted the Tigers and five minutes before the break Smith used all his bulk to crash over from close range following good pressure on the Giants' line.

At 14-12 to Castleford at the break, the game was perfectly poised.

But three minutes after the restart, the balance was tipped in the favour of Huddersfield.

Costin's scything run took him just short of the line and from the acting half-back position Bloem showed incredible strength and determination to somehow touch down through a crowd of Tigers.

Costin made a hash of the relatively straightforward conversion in an act which proved to be a taste of things to come.

By the 58th minute Orr's run to the line enabled former Giants hooker Ryan Hudson to crash over, and Castleford had a lead they never then looked like losing.