It was a sweet victory for Tigers, who had lost by two points to Huddersfield twice earlier this season, including a heart-breaking Carnegie Challenge Cup quarter-final defeat 19 days earlier.

The previous encounters were all-action thrillers, but – until a tense finale – this was a snooze-fest, with little action and even less quality.

Having lost their previous five games – four in engage Super League – that won't concern Tigers much.

Though, after a strong start, they offered little going forward, Cas' defence was excellent and – unlike the Cup tie – they kept their composure late in the game, after Giants had closed the gap to one score.

Rangi Chase – initially operating at hooker, then half-back – was outstanding and his drop goal two minutes from time sealed it for Tigers.

Led by prop Mitchell Sargent, Tigers' forwards stood up well to Giants' big pack and there was also a strong effort from full-back Richard Owen.
Cas were well in command by the break, when they led 12-0.

Booed off at half-time, Giants offered more of a threat in the second 40, but they didn't get points on the board until the 66th minute and that proved too little, too late.

Tigers' two tries both came inside the opening 16 minutes. They led from the fourth minute, when one of their few flowing moves saw Chase, Sargent, Ryan McGoldrick and Owen work the ball to Joe Westerman.

He broke through the midfield and his pass was finished off at the corner by Kirk Dixon. The try was unconverted, but Dixon did add the extras after Giants full-back Brett Hodgson hurled a pass straight at McGoldrick, who hung on and galloped 30 metres unopposed for a gift try.

Dixon completed the first half scoring with a 40-metre penalty just before the interval, after Giants' substitute prop Danny Sculthorpe was penalised in possession, for holding on to tackler Ryan Boyle.

Giants threatened briefly in the final 10 minutes of the half, but their finishing was poor – most notably when Brett Hodgson's pass sent Luke Robinson into space.

The scrum-half had support on either side, but instead of drawing the defence he stepped himself into trouble and lost the ball forward five metres short of the line.

The hosts were hard done to at the start of the second half, when Scott Moore's offload, which sent Kevin Brown clear, was harshly ruled forward.

Cas had another escape when David Hodgson burst down the left wing, but Dixon got a hand to him and he put a foot on the whitewash; then Owen's superb try-saving tackle dragged Paul Whatuira into touch.

Giants finally got off the mark with 14 minutes left when Leroy Cudjoe plunged over at the corner after Brett Hodgson, Brown, Robinson, Simon Finnigan and Stephen Wild had handled across the line.

Brett Hodgson landed a towering touchline conversion, but Tigers nerve held and they saw out the closing stages with few alarms, Chase landing his one-pointer on a rare attack in the 78th minute.

Relieved Tigers coach Terry Matterson said: "I am really pleased, we hung in there and defensively it was a pretty good performance.
"We are down to the bare bones, no-one really gave us a chance, but it was good to get back to winning ways."

Huddersfield Giants: B Hodgson, Cudjoe, Lolesi, Whatuira, D Hodgson, Brown, Robinson, Mason, Moore, Griffin, Wild, Crabtree, Finnigan. Subs (all used) Faiumu, Fulton, Raleigh, Sculthorpe.

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

Referee: Steve Ganson (St Helens).

Attendance: 6,010.

Ends