AN incredible 22-point burst inside the first 11 minutes set the in-form Giants on their way to a fourth engage Super League success of the season.

But that hardly tells the full and pulsating story of a clash that at a later stage appeared to be slipping through the visitors' grasp.

Having made the dream start, the Giants then suffered a nightmare period, gifting their hosts three of the softest tries to set up a nerve-jangling final quarter to the contest.

By the 58th minute, the Tigers had roared back to 22-22, and the game was hanging finely in the balance.

But in the last 12 minutes, the Giants further enhanced their reputation as one of the game's strongest finishers by scoring 14 unanswered points to wrap up a thoroughly absorbing contest.

It was a result that sent the travelling army of well over 1,000 Giants fans home happy, although given the start to the game their side made, they won't have been 100% satisfied.

In the opening exchanges, the visitors were absolutely superb.

Within 43 seconds, the Giants had opened the scoring when Chris Nero's long pass on his own 20 sent Albert Torrens racing away.

He then found Mat Gardner, who then passed back to Torrens to feed the supporting Paul Reilly to score under the posts.

Chris Thorman converted and it was 6-0.

Four minutes later, the visitors were over again, this time from close range as Stuart Jones charged to the line and popped up a pass for Stephen Wild to score the simplest of tries.

Thorman was unable to convert, but made no mistake three minutes later with try No3.

A one-on-one ball steal by Eorl Crabtree on Michael Platt on halfway made it possible, with the prop immediately releasing Wild who showed tremendous pace to race in under the posts.

Then three minutes later Wild turned provider, releasing James Evans to burst clear before drawing the full-back and releasing Brad Drew to scamper over.

It was 22-0!

And Stuart Donlan was unlucky not to have extended the lead in the 16th minute when he was held up fractionally short of the line.

But then the tide finally began to turn.

A knee injury to Albert Torrens midway through the half appeared to knock the visitors out of their stride, and the Tigers seized the moment.

By half-time, they had grabbed three tries and were right back in the frame.

In the 22nd minute, they struck for the first time when Luke Dyer took advantage of a static Giants' defence to collect a `bomb' and race over.

Then eight minutes later, Wayne McDonald attempted an offload on his own 20 and Willie Manu gratefully accepted the gift of the easy interception to score a try, converted by scrum half Andy Kain.

And five minutes before the break, Manu crashed over in the corner to further reduce the deficit.

But even worse was to come for the visitors within 52 seconds of the restart.

The usually reliable Reilly fumbled Mat Gardner's pass on his own tryline and Deon Bird simply picked up the ball and fell over under the posts. Kain's goal made it 22-20.

A Craig Huby penalty levelled the scores in the 58th minute, and the game was on a knife-edge.

With 16 minutes remaining, Michael Shenton had the golden opportunity to give his side the lead when he collected a Kain `bomb' over the tryline.

But the Castleford winger lost possession in his attempt to ground the ball and the Giants were able to breathe an almighty sigh of relief.

In the 68th minute, Thorman nudged his side back ahead with a penalty, and in the closing stages James Evans and Steve Snitch both crossed for scores to finally settle the outcome.

* Huddersfield's Senior Academy side were beaten 58-20 by the Tigers in a curtain-raiser to the Super League clash - full details tomorrow.