Huddersfield Giants24 Castleford Tigers0: Castleford whitewashed as Hodgson grabs hat-trick

The struggling West Yorkshire club slipped to their eighth loss of the season last night despite a brave battle against Huddersfield Giants who saw David Hodgson scorch in for a hat-trick of tries.

However, already missing seven first-teamers through injury, depleted Castleford's hopes of pulling off a much-needed win were not aided by the antics of two of their leading players.

In light of his growing problems, Matterson made a decidedly brave decision to drop star stand-off Chase and 2008 Super League Young Player of the Year Westerman for "disciplinary reasons" believed to be alcohol-related.

Matterson said: "They have been fined and stood down, but they are beside themselves.

"It would hurt them even more knowing the difference these two could have made tonight, but it wasn't a hard decision for me to make. They didn't prepare themselves correctly."

It is the last thing he needed but his patched-up side, who have now won just once in their last six outings, went out and delivered a spirited display.

They only trailed 12-0 until winger Hodgson completed his treble in the 66th minute as Huddersfield, who moved up to third, responded to their shock loss at Salford on Easter Monday.

Giants coach Nathan Brown had labelled that as unacceptable and made five changes with the rested Brett Hodgson, Lee Gilmour, Keith Mason, David Fa'alogo and Eorl Crabtree all restored.

Castleford had no such luxury with Matterson drafting in 17-year-old back-rower Oliver Holmes for his Super League debut.

The signs were ominous for the visitors when, after only 75 seconds, Ryan Hudson's simple pass to Craig Huby was dropped by the unsuspecting prop under no pressure.

There were bewildered looks all around but fortunately for them, their opponents were just as edgy in a hugely lacklustre first half.

There were five spilled passes inside the opening 10 minutes – along with just as many penalties awarded by referee Steve Ganson – and the drab fare did not improve much from thereon in.

Huddersfield managed a 6-0 interval lead despite dominating for most of the first period.

Danny Brough's stellar kicking game saw them force three drop outs, the first of which created the possession for David Hodgson's 14th minute try.

Stand-off Kevin Brown fashioned a wonderful off-load despite the attentions of three Castleford defenders leaving Lee Gilmour and Paul Whatuira to send the winger over.

Brett Hodgson converted from wide out but there was little further class on show.

Martin Aspinwall and Brown both fumbled in perfect attacking position. A mixture of such profligacy and gutsy Castleford defence saw Brown's side denied any further score before the break.

Workaholic Stuart Jones, one of five former Giants in the Castleford side, led the Tigers' resistance with some fine tackling while Australian prop Mitchell Sargent levelled Andy Raleigh with one huge hit.

Their pack muscled up in the middle well to keep giant England prop Eorl Crabtree in check while youngster Jordan Thompson was an impressive runner from full-back.

David Hodgson added his second though, a slick backline move finishing with Brett Hodgson firing out the final pass to allow the ex-Halifax man a slide into the corner.

Brett Hodgson made it 12-0 with another kick but Castleford then

enjoyed their first real period of pressure, camping on the Huddersfield line on the back of a raft of penalties.

The hosts showed their renowned defensive steel though, repeatedly holding their opponents out. It was here where Chase's inventiveness would have been crucial but the Tigers lacked the ideas to open up the stubborn Giants.

When Mike Cooper did finally find a chink, the on-loan Warrington prop spilled going over the line in the 55th minute.

David Hodgson completed his hat-trick when sloppy Castleford threw a forward pass from a scrum base.

Huddersfield did not make the same mistake, another crisp shift to the left from the resulting scrum seeing Hodgson scorch in once more, taking his tally for the season into double figures.

With Castleford tiring, the Giants rubbed it in soon after when the pace of Brough and Luke Robinson split Castleford down the middle and Jamahl Lolesi finished off for his first try of the year.

Captain Brett Hodgson maintained his 100 per cent success rate from the touchline but it was the plucky away side who came away with more credit.

Huddersfield: B Hodgson; Lolesi, Lawrence, Whatuira, D Hodgson; Brown, Brough; Mason, Robinson, Griffin, Gilmour, Fa'alogo, Aspinwall. Substitutes: Raleigh, Crabtree, Faiumu, Grix.

Castleford: Thompson; Ainscough, Shenton, Clayton, Wainwright; McGoldrick, Netherton; Jackson, Hudson, Huby, Cooper, Snitch, Jones. Substitutes: Sargent, Higgins, Holmes, Tuson.

Referee: S Ganson (St Helens).