Huddersfield surprise Castleford at McAlpine

Huddersfield have come away with the points in their opening match for Super League IX with a surprise 26 ? 22 victory over the Castleford Tigers at The McAlpine Stadium on Sunday afternoon.

Huddersfield, who were trailing 22-14 with just 10 minutes left in the game, somehow turned the entire momentum of the match with Marcus St Hilare and Brandon Costin scoring the winning tries.

Despite Castleford losing a friendly against the Giants 36 ? 0 earlier in the year, the Tigers, based on their usual Super League rankings were always expected to win the clash, and after getting off to a fantastic start, many thought their poor pre-season form had left them.

Tigers? winger, Darren Rogers opened the scoring with a try in just the third minute, which Wayne Godwin had little problems converting. Waine Pryce then doubled the visitors lead in the 18th minute, crossing down the other wing.

Huddersfield got their first points on the board around 25th minute, before scoring a try just on half time through Paul March to keep them in the game.

Former Halifax centre, Ryan Clayton scored his first try for the Tigers in the 42nd minute to put the visitors up 18 ? 10, before Stuart Jones, replied for the Giants.

England Academy fullback, Tom Saxton edged the Castleford side further in front as they looked in control of the match before St Hilaire (71st minute) collected his second, and then Costin scored right in the dieing minutes of the game to hand Huddersfield the victory.

HUDDERSFIELD GIANTS 26 Tries: St Hilaire 2, Jones, March, Costin Goals: Costin 3 Team: Paul Reilly, Hefin O'Hare, Stuart Donlan, Julian Bailey, Marcus St Hilaire, Stanley Gene, Paul March, Darren Fleary, Darren Turner, Ben Roarty, Chris Nero, Stuart Jones, Brandon Costin. Subs: Ben Cooper, Sean Penkywicz, Eorl Crabtree, Mick Slicker. defeated CASTLEFORD TIGERS 22 Tries: Rogers, Pryce, Clayton, Saxton Goals: Godwin 3 Team: Tom Saxton, Waine Pryce, Damian Gibson, Ryan Clayton, Darren Rogers, Sean Rudder, Ryan Sheridan, Craig Greenhill, Wayne Godwin, Nathan Sykes, Jamie Thackray, Lee Harland, Ryan Hudson. Subs: Jon Hepworth, Sean Ryan, Michael Smith, Paul Jackson. Venue: McAlpine Stadium (Huddersfield) Crowd: 5,326 Date: Sun Feb 22 3.00pm Referee: Karl Kirkpatrick (Warrington) Half time: Castleford 12-0