Super League: Castleford Tigers 16-34 Huddersfield Giants - Leroy Cudjoe inspires win

Leroy Cudjoe (right) made it three tries in four games for the Giants

Huddersfield Giants secured a convincing victory against an under-strength Castleford side who are yet to win at home since the return of crowds.

Leroy Cudjoe scored twice in the first-half, along with Nate Peteru, Luke Yates and Jermaine McGillvary, as Giants picked up back-to-back wins.

With 15 players unavailable, Covid-hit Cas fielded a number of academy players including Cain Robb and Brad Graham.

Paul McShane, Brad Graham and debutant Jake Sweeting scored the Tigers tries.

Ian Watson's Giants had Wednesday's game against St Helens postponed because of Covid-19 protocols and the extra rest seemed to do them good.

Cudjoe's recent prolific form saw him cross for the first of his two tries with a run against the grain to get the ball rolling, set up by 18-year-old Will Pryce, the son of former Great Britain international Leon Pryce.

McShane sniped in soon after, but the Giants' veteran centre then got his second to re-establish the lead.

Peteru bulldozed in for the visitors but the Tigers replied in the second-half through 19-year-old Graham.

Yates and McGillvary's scores in the late stages took the game away from the home side, despite Featherstone loanee Sweeting's touchdown.

Daryl Powell's squad worries were further exacerbated by the loss of captain Michael Shenton, who was sent for a hospital check-up on a worrying facial injury.

The former St Helens and England centre was forced off four minutes into the second half after coming off worse attempting a tackle - and Castleford coach Powell fears that x-rays will reveal at least one fracture.

Castleford coach Daryl Powell:

"It looks that way. It's really badly swollen and he's sore in a few points on his face. He will go to hospital now. I just hope he's OK. He's been an unbelievable champion for this club. I hope it's not as bad as it looks.

"We battled hard but losing Shenny was a massive blow. It's so hard at the moment. We had 15 players missing with Covid and another one injured. It's madness.

"We couldn't quite score when we needed to in the second half. But I can't question our effort. We just can't get a team together at the moment. This is as hard as I've seen it in the job.

Huddersfield coach Ian Watson:

"Nathan Peats is an absolute top-class nine. You can see why he's played State of Origin.

"He's really helping our young halves and gives us some composure. I rate him up there as one of the best nines I've had in my teams over the years.

"We were very good in the first half. We controlled the field position really well and, once we got opportunities, we executed really well. Will Pryce opened them up a few times."

Castleford: Evalds; Olpherts, Blair, Shenton, Graham; Smith, Robb; Foster, Peachey, Martin, Hall, McShane, Massey

Interchanges: Matagi, Bienek, Keinhorst, Sweeting

Huddersfield: Golding; McGillvary, Jake. Wardle, Cudjoe, Senior; Russell, Pryce; Trout, Peats, Wilson, Wood, McQueen, Yates

Interchanges: English, Hewitt, Ashall-Bott, Peteru

Referee: Tom Grant

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