Castleford Tigers 44 Huddersfield Giants 18: Westerman puts boot into Huddersfield's play-off ambitions

The West Yorkshire side were fined 40,000 last week, a penalty the club have since appealed against, after supporters directed homophobic chants at Crusaders' wing Gareth Thomas. But the off-field controversy had little effect on Terry Matterson's side as they put a dent in the Giants' own play-off aspirations. The home side had led 18-14 at the interval after hitting back from 10-0 down as Craig Huby, Rangi Chase and Steve Snitch crossed. Leroy Cudjoe and Jamahl Lolesi had got Huddersfield off to a flyer, with Shaun Lunt adding a third.

Ryan McGoldrick and prop Huby quickly extended the Tigers' lead, and Kirk Dixon and Chase put a seal on the win, while Joe Westerman ended with 12 points after a flawless display with the boot. Lunt added his second late on for the visitors, but it was no more than a consolation.

The visitors made the perfect start from their first set of six. England stand-off Kevin Brown's kick through was played at by Dean Widders and when the ball bounced back to Brown he weighted a perfect chip to the corner for Cudjoe to dot down his 17th try of the campaign, Brett Hodgson added the extras.

The hosts fell further behind and Brown was once again involved as his pass freed Cudjoe who fed Lolesi, via what appeared to be a forward pass, to score. Hodgson failed with the sideline conversion.

Cas finally enjoyed some field position courtesy of two powerful carries from Westerman, and when a penalty on the final tackle gave them another set on the Giants line they made it pay as Huby reached out to score, Westerman kicking the goal.

And seconds later the Tigers were ahead.

Giants winger David Hodgson fumbled Chase's kick and the Cas half-back was on hand to score. Westerman added the extras for a 12-10 lead.

But Huddersfield soon hit back as Danny Brough and Brett Hodgson combined to put Lunt over, although Hodgson was again off target with the boot.

Good Tigers defence thwarted both David Hodgson and Larne Patrick before Michael Shenton was pulled up in full flow by referee Thierry Alibert.

But when Widders saw his own kick bounce back into his hands off a Huddersfield body he sent Snitch over just before half-time. Westerman again added the two extra points.

McGoldrick soon extended the lead as he leapt highest to grab Chase's high kick under the crossbar, Westerman maintained his 100 per cent record by adding his fourth goal.

The stunned visitors fell further behind as Huby took a short pass from Chase to twist through two tackles, again converted by Westerman.

Some sound handling on the right from Castleford allowed Widders to put Kirk Dixon over for an easy finish to kill the game off, Westerman slotting the tough conversion from the touchline.

The Giants got a consolation back through Lunt, but it was too little too late as Dixon added a late penalty and Chase intercepted a loose Luke Robinson pass to race clear and round off an impressive win.

Castleford: McGoldrick, Dixon, Ferres, Shenton, Wainwright, Widders, Chase, Huby, Hudson, Jackson, Snitch, Clayton, Westerman. Substitutes: Sargent, Milner, Thompson, Walker.

Huddersfield: B. Hodgson, Cudjoe, Lolesi, Lawrence, D. Hodgson, Brown, Robinson, D. Griffin, Drew, Mason, Gilmour, Finnigan, Lunt. Substitutes: Brough, Patrick, Faiumu, Horne.

Referee: T Alibert (Toulouse).