Huddersfield edge out Cas at Magic Weekend

Betfred Super League

Huddersfield (12) 20

Tries: Halsall, Hewitt, Marsters Goals: Connor 3

Castleford (0) 12

Tries: Qareqare 2 Goals: Milnes 2

Huddersfield Giants edged out a hard-earned Magic Weekend win against Castleford Tigers in an entertaining encounter at Elland Road.

Sam Halsall and Sam Hewitt crossed for a quickfire pair of tries to send the Giants ahead early on.

Esan Marsters padded out Huddersfield's lead after the break but Jason Qareqare raced in at the corner to get Cas on the board.

Qareqare later worked on to Liam Horne's perfectly executed kick to bring Cas in touching distance, but Jake Connor's late long-range penalty wrapped up the two points for Huddersfield.

Huddersfield and Castleford remain in ninth and 10th place in the Super League table respectively, but the Giants are now six points off eighth-placed Leeds.

The Giants edged ahead just three minutes in when Halsall did well to stretch his arm in to ground at the corner and they doubled their lead less than 10 minutes later.

Hewitt prospered from Leroy Cudjoe - who signed a new deal with the Giants prior to kick-off - wrong-footing the Cas defence to race in for their second.

Castleford were given a route back into the game when Tui Lolohea put in a high tackle on Jacob Miller, leading to referee Aaron Moore sending him to the bin.

It was Huddersfield who looked more likely to score before the break, however, and Cas full-back Tex Hoy put in a try-saving tackle to deny Olly Russell.

The Giants did move into an 18-point lead on the restart, and it came after Castleford mishandled a high kick, leading to Huddersfield winning possession back inside 20 metres, with Marsters running in with ease.

Cas did hit back soon after and did so in style as a neat passing movement gave Qareqare the time and space to run in at the corner.

But his second was even better, coming courtesy of a defence-busting kick from Horne to the corner to allow him to race in at the opposite corner to his first.

Huddersfield Giants have won eight of their 22 Super League fixtures this season

Huddersfield: Connor; Bibby, Marsters, Naiqama, Halsall; Lolohea, Russell; Hill, Milner, Savelio, Hewitt, Rushton, Cudjoe.

Interchanges: Rush, Ikahihifo, English, Rogers.

Castleford: Hoy; Qareqare, Hall, Tate, I Senior; Milnes, Milner; Mustapha, Horne, Hindmarsh, Mellor, El-Zakhem, Westerman.

Interchanges: Watts, Namo, Martin, Hill.

Referee: Aaron Moore.