Super 8s: Huddersfield Giants 16-24 Castleford Tigers

Ben Roberts scored one of Castleford's four tries against Huddersfield

Huddersfield's Super League play-offs hopes are hanging by a thread after they were beaten by Castleford.

Jake Webster put the visitors ahead but Huddersfield turned it around to lead 12-6 at half-time thanks to tries from Oliver Roberts and Paul Clough.

Castleford scored two early second-half tries through Ben Roberts and Greg Eden, added to by Luke Gale.

Darnell McIntosh scored a consolation for the hosts, but they are now five points adrift of the top four.

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Castleford, who have already secured a home semi-final as League Leaders' Shield winners, went ahead as Webster powered over.

Roberts scored from short range and Clough walked in under the posts moments after coming off the bench as the the Giants led by six points at the break, but Roberts sliced through the Huddersfield defence and Eden grounded in the corner to help Cas retake the lead.

A great break from Eden set up Gale, who converted his own try to take his personal tally for the night to 12 points as Castleford took control, while McIntosh grabbed a late try in the corner for the Giants who now need an extraordinary set of results to stand a chance of reaching the play-offs.

Huddersfield Giants boss Rick Stone:

"I'm a bit disappointed for the boys. We didn't manage the second half as well as we could have, but they are a quality opposition and against the better teams you have to play to your potential.

"It's hard to keep playing your best every week and the boys have worked hard to get in a position where a top-four place was a possibility.

"We still have a lot to play for - for our own pride and for our fans, so we will still turn up and give 100% every week until the end of the season."

Castleford head coach Daryl Powell:

"They all did pretty well. There is competition for places all over the place. Alex Foster was superb tonight, the guys in the middle - Larne and Gadwin - did some good things.

"Cooky did pretty well having to start in the pack after we did a reshuffle this morning, so the competition for places is there. Kevin Larroyer did a bit at the end and people are fighting for spots as there's a lot of pride in there.

"I'm working towards getting our best team together (for the play-offs) but I won't rest people for the sake of it. Whoever we play against (in their home semi-final), it's important that we have momentum."

Huddersfield: Rankin, McGillvary, Cudjoe, Turner, McIntosh, Gaskell, Brough, Ikahihifo, Leeming, Wakeman, Ta'ai, Roberts, Hinchcliffe.

Replacements: Clough, Lawrence, Rapira, Mellor.

Castleford: Hardaker, Hitchcox, Webster, Shenton, Eden, Roberts, Gale, Cook, McShane, Sene-Lefao, Moors, Foster, Massey.

Replacements: Milner, Springer, Patrick, Larroyer.

Referee: Scott Mikalauskas (RFL).