Hodgsons sink brave Cas
Castleford 24 Huddersfield 26: Huddersfield's namesakes earn their stripes while Quins hammer woeful Wolves
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Your support makes all the difference.Huddersfield's two Hodgsons gave them the edge in a richly entertaining match as the Giants maintained their remarkable away record.
David Hodgson, a former Great Britain winger, scored a hat-trick of tries but it was his namesake and captain, Brett, who made the contributions in attack and defence that decided the outcome. The game was locked at 20-20 when the Australian full-back made a try-saving tackle on Richard Moore. Moments later he went over at the other end and kicked the goal. The Giants then hung on for a seventh away win in a row, with Leroy Cudjoe's trip to the sin-bin and a try from Brett Ferres keeping them under pressure.
"I'm proud of the guys' effort. We fought hard for each other and every time we got down their end we scored," said their coach, Nathan Brown.
It had been a heady week for Castleford, spent looking down on most of Super League from third place. It took little more than 20 seconds, however, to bring them down to earth. Scott Moore regained the ball from Huddersfield's kick-off and a beautifully timed pass from Kevin Brown put Jamahl Lolesi over the line.
The Tigers then scored twice in three minutes. Brent Sherwin made a scoring pass to James Evans on the right, and Cas hit the front when Craig Huby went in from Ryan Hudson's short pass. Despite then conceding a try to David Hodgson, from Brown's imaginative kick, they really ought to have taken control. Michael Shenton was held up over the line and Ferres failed to ground the ball.
Cas then squandered their slim lead before the break. Sione Faumuina lost the ball and Brown and Brett Hodgson sent David Hodgson over. After the break Cudjoe paved the way for David Hodgson's hat-trick try.
That triggered a new urgency in the Tigers, with Ryan McGoldrick twice coming into the line, creating tries for Huby and Ferres. Kirk Dixon could not land a conversion, however, and the Giants grabbed the spoils at the end. Both sides had late chances, but the result takes Huddersfield level with Castleford on six points. On the evidence of this compelling contest, they both have plenty to offer this season – although Cas will have to find better finishing ability if they are to live up to their early promise.
At the Twickenham Stoop, Danny Orr starred as Harlequins ran in 10 tries on the way to a 60-8 rout of winless Warrington.
Castleford: McGoldrick; Dixon, Evans, Shenton, Owen; Faumuina, Sherwin; Sargent, Hudson, Huby, Jones, Ferres, Westerman. Substitutes used: Widders, Netherton, Chase, Feather.
Huddersfield: B Hodgson; Cudjoe, Lawrence, Whatuira, D Hodgson; Brown, Robinson; Mason, Moore, Jackson, Wild, Lolesi, Walsh. Substitutes used: Kirmond, Griffin, Patrick, Lunt.
Referee: S Ganson (St Helens).
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