Castleford Tigers Supporters Club

The Tigers Wembley dream ended in dramatic fashion at The Glapharm Stadium as they wilted in the heat, unable to withstand a late fightback and going down 16-14 to Hudersfield Giants.

The game played in sweltering conditions was entertaining for the watching TV audience and both sides deserve immense credit for the way they handled the conditions.

Cas were handed a selection boost as Ryan McGoldrick, Kirk Netherton and Richard Owen were all fit for selection although Brent Sherwin joined Ryan Hudson and Dean Widders on the injured list. For the Giants star Aussie fullback Brett Hodgson returned to skipper the home side.

The Tigers started had an almost dream start as McGoldrick sent Mitchell Sargent through a gap for the prop to find James Evans in support. From the play the ball McGoldrick's high kick was fielded by David Hodgson but the Giants winger was tackled in goal by Michael Shenton to earn the Tigers another set of 6.

The pressure told when a high hanging kick was taken superbly by Shenton who outjumped the Giants cover to force his way over for the opening score. Kirk Dixon was unable to add the conversion so the lead was 4 points.

Possession and field position fluctuated as first Huddersfield looked to capitalise on a Sargent knock on. Luke Robinson tried to get a pass out Simon Finnegan although it ended more like Miami Dolphins than Huddersfield Giants and Cas had a let off.

Chase then put a super kick through to pin the home side back to within a couple of metres of their line. Jamahl Lolesi then tried to clear his line only to clash with Michael Wainwright, the Giants centre needing 8 stitches in a facial wound.

The home side took the lead when a sustained period of pressure saw Finnegan, Paul Jackson and Robinson all went close before stand off Kevin Brown forced his way over through weak Tigers tackling. With the try being under the sticks, the conversion was routine for Brett Hodgson to give Huddersfield a 6-4 lead.

A Paul Whatuira break was supported by David Hodgson and with the winger in open field a try looked on the cards but Owen showed great pace to track back and the pass to Robinson went to ground. With Cas gifting Huddersfield penalties they were under the cosh and when David Faiumu put a neat kick through, Stephen Wild dived to get the touchdown. After several views the video ref ruled that the ball had hit the dead ball line.

Martin Aspinwall then couldn't take a pass from Wild after a blind side move from a scrum after Chris Feather knocked the ball down in a tackle and when Andy Raleigh was penalised for a grapple tackle on Ryan Clayton the Giants would have been rueing the missed opportunities as Dixon levelled the scores to take the teams in 6-6 at the break.

Four minutes after the restart and a loose pass from Finnegan was picked up by Wild who broke down the right. The ball was moved across the line and Whatuira's pass sent David Hodgson over in the corner. The referee, Richard Silverwood, ruled that the final pass was forward and another chance went begging.

A McGoldrick pass then saw Feather attack Robinson and the Tigers prop gave a timely offload. Brett Ferres juggled the pass before showing good footwork to beat Brett Hodgson and then carried 2 defenders over for a well taken try. Dixon converted and then added a penalty moments later when Evans was held down too long for Silverwood's liking.

The noisy Cas following were now in full voice and providing encouragement to their team and they responded in fine style with some resolute defence in the face of a mountain of Giants pressure. Aspinwall was held up over the line and Whatuira went close before Cas surged back and looked to have clinched the tie.

The ever lively Chase broke free from inside his own half and with Netherton in support, as he took Brett Hodgson's tackle, the Tigers half back managed to get the ball away for the hooker to race away to dive over beside the posts. Silverwood handed onto the video ref who ruled that the tackle was complete as the ball carrying arm had hit the ground.

Cas continued to seek that game clinching score as the game entered its closing stages. A Chase pass sent Shenton away and as the centre turned the ball inside to Ferres, Wild managed to knock the ball down.

Wild was again to prove a thorn in the Tigers side as he backed up a Robinson break to take the pass and round Owen to pull the Giants back into the game. Brett Hodgson's conversion meant Cas held a 2 point advantage going into the final 10 minutes.

A fine pass to Sione Faumuina from McGoldrick saw the big Kiwi hand on to Chase who broke deep into Giants territory. The ball was moved left but a loose pass from Faumuina ended up with Owen attempting a drop goal. The effort went wide but with only a few minutes the tension was mounting.

When cool heads were required the Tigers seemed to loose theirs and when McGoldrick passed to Faumuina, on the last tackle, the ball ended up on the floor. Ferres tried a ridiculous through the legs pass and Shenton knocked on and this gave the home side the opportunity they were looking for.

Desperately seeking an opening the ball was moved left and David Hodgson had a tilt down the left. The ball was moved across to the right and Lolesi made ground on the right before the ball came back across to the left and Brown sent ex Featherstone winger Danny Kirmond through a gap to put the home side in front and break the Tigers' hearts. Brett Hodgson's conversion hit the post to leave the final score, Huddersfield 16 Cas 14.

Another fine performance by Cas only to lose out narrowly in the end. There was some heroic defence at times and Sargent, Feather, Stuart Jones and Joe Westerman got through a mountain of work. Chase was again impressive, Faumuina continued to show improving form and Shenton showed why he his fast emerging as one of the top centres in the game.

Next up is a home game in front of the Sky TV cameras as the Tigers entertain a Warrington Wolves side who are improving week in week out. The Wolves will be confident after their 'Golden Point' victory over Hull KR last week and so it will be a tough one for Cas. Having recently been victorious at Warrington though Cas will see this as a winable game and will be looking to bounce back from the Challenge Cup disappointment.

Tigers: Owen, Dixon, Evans, Shenton, Wainwright, McGoldrick, Chase, Sargent, Netherton, Higgins, Ferres, Jones, Westerman. Subs: Clayton, Huby, Faumuina, Feather

Giants: B. Hodgson, Aspinwall, Lolesi, Whatuira, D. Hodgson, Brown, Robinson, Mason, Moore, Jackson, Kirmond, Wild, Finnegan. Subs: Crabtree, Griffin, Raleigh, Faiumu

Referee: Richard Silverwood                        Attendance:

Normytiger's Man of the Match

1st Rangi Chase 3 points

2nd Joe Westerman 2 points

3rd Michael Shenton 1 point