Late rally to no avail

May 31 2003 By Chris Roberts, The Huddersfield Daily Examiner

Castleford Tigers 32 - 18 Huddersfield Giants. No holding high-speed Cas with blistering opener punishing crucial errors

But three minutes later prop Dean Sampson - who was lucky to escape further punishment when he blatantly felled the advancing Paul Reilly with a high shot a little earlier - burst clear and fed Danny Orr to score by the posts.

Bartrim's conversion made it 18-6 and the home side had received the perfect pre-half-time lift.

The start of the second period was painful in the extreme for the Giants as three tries in the space of the opening 18 minutes settled the contest.

Darren Rogers raced over in the corner in the 46th minute and Bartrim followed up seven minutes later after an exquisite move.

Then another piece of clinical Castleford play resulted in Andy Johnson finishing off in the corner to take his side out of sight.

At that stage it was out and out damage limitation for the Giants.

But with the game well beyond their reach, they at last began to find some true form, with March providing the spark.

His superb one-on-one ball steal from Andy Lynch with 13 minutes remaining set the ball rolling.

With possession back with the Giants and Castleford having to get quickly into line, the play was worked out to Graham Holroyd whose great long pass enabled Julian Bailey to burst out of his marker and race over.

McNamara converted and repeated the feat three minutes later.