Match Report: Giants 24 Castleford 0

Apr 10 2010 by Chris Roberts, Huddersfield Daily Examiner

Giants v Castleford report

DAVID HODGSON celebrated his 50th Giants appearance and lit up the dourest of Super League encounters by scoring a hat trick of tries to get his side back on the right Super League track.

Huddersfield’s victory over the injury-ravaged Castleford Tigers may not have been the greatest ever witnessed at the Galpharm.

But after the horror show at Salford on Easter Monday, coach Nathan Brown would have been happier with the win than the performance – although he will still be expecting far more on that front as well in the weeks and months that still lie ahead in Super League XV.

Despite the return of ‘big guns’ Brett Hodgson, Eorl Crabtree, David Fa’alogo, Lee Gilmour and Keith Mason, the Giants struggled to get into their stride.

In a far-from-convincing opening which set the tone for the rest of the first half, both sides started loosely, spilling the ball in promising positions.

As a result, it took 13 minutes before any quality rugby was produced to pave the way for the only try of the dullest of opening 40 minutes.

Danny Brough set the wheels in motion, launching a great kick into the in-goal area to force the first of three first-half goalline drop-outs by the visitors.

And from the subsequent set, the position was created for Kevin Brown to show great strength to keep the ball alive in the tackle and feed Gilmour.

The former Great Britain back-rower then found Paul Whatuira who slipped the pass to David Hodgson to finish in the corner and celebrate his 50th Giants appearance in the best possible fashion.

Brett Hodgson landed the touchline goal, and many thought this may signal the end of the Tigers’ resistance.

Unfortunately for their hosts, that couldn’t have been further from the truth.

With both teams continuing to spill the ball with monotonous regularity, chances remained few and far between.