Huddersfield Giants ran in eight tries as they beat a Castleford Tigers side dealing with the absence of Justin Carney 40-24 at the John Smith's Stadium.

Luke Gale put the visitors ahead inside the opening 10 minutes when he touched down for his ninth try of the season, then held his nerve to convert his own effort.

Ashley Gibson went over to put his side 10 points ahead, before Ukuma Tai'ai powered through the Castleford line after Michael McMeeken had been sin-binned to reduce the deficit on 20 minutes.

McMeekan's absence proved crucial as a quick-fire brace from Jermaine McGillvary - his 20th and 21st tries of the season - then put the hosts into the lead, and Jake Conner's score on the half-hour mark stretched Huddersfield's lead to 10 points.

Aaron Murphy then took Joe Wardle's incisive pass and went over on the stroke of half time for Huddersfield's fifth try of the opening period.

Luke Dorn's try stopped the rot for Castleford shortly after the restart, before Ben Roberts brought the gap back to a single score just after the hour mark.

Just as it seemed that Castleford would overturn Huddersfield, however, Wardle and Jamie Ellis struck to put the home side 34-20 ahead.

Eorl Crabtree then wrapped up the win with a try on his 400th appearance for Huddersfield, before Denny Solomona's late consolation.