Sunday 8th July 2012, 15:30 - Round:20

Huddersfield Giants’ slump continued with their seventh defeat in eight Stobart Super League games ahead of next Sunday's Challenge Cup semi-final against Warrington Wolves.

They were totally outplayed by lowly Castleford Tigers who gave their best performance this season.

New half-back signing Jamie Ellis, who has joined the Tigers from Hull FC, landed 10 goals from 11 kicks and grabbed a try on his debut.

Richard Owen bagged two tries and was also an important contributor for Castleford on his return from suspension.

The Tigers showed they can win in style without star half-back Rangi Chase, who is still suspended while the club investigate an alleged disciplinary breach.

Luke Robinson and David Fa'alogo returned for the Giants in place of Eorl Crabtree and Dale Ferguson.

With skipper Danny Orr pulling the strings, the Tigers made the early running. They went ahead after four minutes when Orr and Owen created an opening for winger James Clare who, after stumbling as he caught the latter’s pass, regained his feet to force his way over at the corner for his first try at senior level.

The Giants replied seven minutes later when Danny Brough's superbly-judged high kick created a try for Leroy Cudjoe who plucked the ball out of the air to score.

Brough's conversion put the Giants 6-4 up but that was the highlight of an otherwise dismal afternoon and it was shortlived.

Castleford looked much sharper in attack than they had in recent weeks and regained the lead when forwards Craig Huby and Grant Millington cleverly sent in centre Jordan Thompson for an 18th minute try that Ellis goaled.

Castleford's defence was also far better than of late and they did well to survive a spell of Huddersfield pressure in which Fa'alogo was halted just short of the try line.

The Tigers then increased their lead with two tries in five minutes. Slick passing by Orr, Ellis and Owen sent in winger Nick Youngquest and Ellis converted from the touchline.

The Giants were quickly rocked again when Millington fed Owen who regathered his own neat kick and dummied his way over, with Ellis again tagging on the extras.

Huddersfield missed a gilt-edged chance when Robinson made a delightful break but substitute Tommy Lee was unable to catch his pass with the try line wide open.

Youngquest then rescued the Tigers on the stroke of half-time by intercepting Brough's pass near his own try line.

Castleford edged further ahead early in the second-half.

Ellis made it 26-4 by two penalty goals in two minutes, the first when the Giants were penalised for holding down and the second when they were offside.

Despite the promptings of half-backs Brough and Robinson, Huddersfield struggled to find any fluency, with their handling often letting them down.

Castleford's Adam Milner was held up over the line before Ellis kicked another penalty.

They shot further ahead in the 62nd minute when Josh Griffin intercepted Kevin Brown's pass and raced 95 yards to score.

Owen then grabbed his second try, Milner forced his way over from acting half close to the line and Ellis also crossed to put the icing on the cake for the Tigers.