Ellis proves instant hit as Castleford fell Giants

Jamie Ellis scored a try and 10 goals on his Castleford debut as they beat high-flying Huddersfield 52-10 in one of the shock scorelines of the Super League season yesterday. Ellis, a former St Helens and Leigh half-back, only arrived from Hull last week but he made an immediate difference to his new club.

Widnes, another team firmly at the wrong end of the table, were set to pull off an even bigger shock at the Stobart Stadium when Cameron Phelps' try – following three from Patrick Ah Van – put them 23-18 up against St Helens. Josh Jones' try and a conversion from Lee Gaskell, however, just snatched away the spoils in the dying moments. Sol Soliola, Jon Wilkin and Michael Shenton scored Saints' other tries in a match they will be relieved to have won, particularly as Rhys Hanbury had a conversion controversially ruled out for Widnes.

There was no such drama for the league leaders, Wigan, who went five points clear at the top of the table by winning 52-10 at lowly Wakefield. The full-back Sam Tomkins, who was rested from the second England v Exiles International Origin match in midweek, responded with 24 points from three tries and six goals.

Salford , who sold the highly rated half-back Matty Smith to Wigan this week, maintained their slim hopes of a top-eight finish with a 24-22 win at Hull Kingston Rovers.