Five-try Castleford thrash dismal Huddersfield

Betfred Super League

Huddersfield (6) 12

Tries: Gagai, Wilson Goals: Flanagan 2

Castleford (18) 30

Tries: I Senior 2, Simm, Mellor, Milnes Goals: Milnes 5

Castleford Tigers thrashed a dismal Huddersfield Giants 30-12 at the John Smith's Stadium to earn just their second win of the Super League season.

Two tries from Innes Senior and one each from Josh Simm, Alex Mellor and Rowan Milnes - who also kicked five goals - gave the Tigers a comfortable away win against their West Yorkshire rivals.

Giants full-back Jacob Gagai and Oliver Wilson grabbed consolation tries for the hosts, who were booed off by a handful of home supporters at half-time.

Castleford's victory means they stay 10th but move two points clear of Salford in the Super League standings, while Huddersfield remain rooted to the foot of the table, still without a point after nine matches.

Just two minutes in and a high kick from Milnes was collected by captain Sam Wood who found ex-Giants winger Senior to dot down in the corner and open the scoring for the visitors.

Giants winger Adam Swift's brilliant line break then allowed Gagai to race clear from halfway, and after George Flanagan kicked the extras, the hosts led 6-4.

That was as good as it got for the Giants, however, as a long kick from Milnes soon after brought about a mistake from Gagai, who dropped the ball under no pressure in front of his own goalline and, following a turnover, Simm dived over in the right corner expertly to restore the visitors lead.

Midway through the first half, the visitors put their grip firmly on the match after another high kick towards the left corner from Milnes on the final tackle exposed more weak Giants defending, and Mellor gathered to score his first Super League try of the season after barging over Gagai to touch down.

Wood then had a try disallowed for the visitors after it was deemed he was just short of the line, and moments later Joe Westerman was sin-binned for a high shot as ill-discipline started to creep into Castleford's dominant first-half showing.

However, while down to 12 men, the visitors extended their lead following a penalty from Milnes, and, six minutes into the second-half, the Tigers got their fourth try of the day when Senior collected a good pass over the top of the Giants defence from Daejarn Asi to dive over in the corner for his second.

Good work on the hour mark from Castleford's Tex Hoy then set up Milnes, who dived over under the posts to mark his 100th career appearance with a try his performance merited.

Giants prop Wilson then reduced the arrears when he barged through Hoy to stretch over and grab a consolation score, but it was far too little, too late as the hosts went down to a ninth consecutive league defeat of the season.

Huddersfield: Gagai; Carr, Halsall, Jake Bibby, Swift; Flanagan, Rush; Wilson, Golding, Burgess, Hewitt, Greenwood, Cudjoe.

Interchanges: Woolford, English, Jack Bibby, Milne.

Castleford: Hoy; Simm, Cini, Wood, I Senior; Asi, Milnes; Amone, Rimbu, Dezaria, Simbiken, Mellor, Lawler.

Interchanges: Westerman, Okoro, Singleton, Salabio.

Sin-bin: Westerman (33).

Referee: Marcus Griffiths.