Castleford Tigers Supporters Club

Former tennis commentator Dan Maskell would have described this encounter between Bradford Bulls and Castleford Tigers as "Quite remarkable" and how appropriate especially as the game clashed with the Wimbledon Mens Singles  Final.

As appears to be the norm nowadays with Tigers games the game went right down to the wire and the outcome ultimately being decided with the last kick of the game, Paul Deacon's miss as he attempted to level the scores after Ben Jeffries last minute score had given the Bulls a chance to share the spoils.

Cas took an early lead when a towering kick from Rangi Chase saw Bulls winger Semi Tadulala spill the ball under pressure from Joe Westerman and Michael Shenton before it fell kindly for the England centre to score. Westerman converted to give the Tigers a 6-0 lead after 6 minutes of play.

From the kick off Thompson, making his first start for the Tigers, stepped into touch whilst receiving the kick off. This gave the home side an opportunity to exert some pressure and when Richard Owen appeared to have been illegally lifted in the tackle the young fullback gave away a penalty as he spoke to referee Ben Thaler out of turn at the next stoppage. From the resulting play, Jeffries took the ball left and fed Dave Halley who in turn sent a pass out to Tadulala for the winger to score wide out. Deacon couldn't add the extras as his conversion attempt hit the post.

As the Bulls turned the screw Chris Nero broke through a Ryan McGoldrick tackle and raced clear with Terry Newton and Tadulala in support. The centre took the wrong option and Newton was hauled down just short.

A high kick by Thompson saw Brett Ferres and Steve Menzies challenge for the ball and when Deacon gathered the loose ball the chance looked to have gone. Inexplicably the Bulls scrum half lost the ball and as Cas attacked again McGoldrick sent Chase through a gap to step Halley and score under the sticks. Westerman again converted to put Cas 12-4 up.

Again the Tigers put themselves under pressure with a mistake from the kick off, this time McGoldrick knocking on. From the resulting set of 6 Halley went through a gap and forced his way over despite Owen's efforts to stop him for a try which Deacon converted.

To add more pressure McGoldrick's kick off went out on the full gifting the home side field position and only 3 minutes later they were in front for the 1st time. Prop Nick Scruton raced through a gap from a Newton pass to score and Deacon's conversion from bang in front put the Bulls 16-12 in front.

More Bradford pressure saw Owen tackled in the in-goal area fielding a Deacon kick. Then referee Thaler ruled a forward pass when Newton went short side sending Halley in.

Owen and Westerman both went close for Cas and Godwin and Michael Worrincey went close for Bradford before Jeffries broke to send the supporting Worrincey in for a score as half time approached. Deacon again converted to give the Bulls a 22-12 lead at the break.

Whatever Terry Matterson's half time talk contained needs bottling for future weeks as his charges hit the Bulls with 4 tries in the opening 14 minutes of the half.

A high kick by Chase was spilled by Tadulala under pressure from Westerman and Shenton picked up the loose ball to send Thompson in at the corner. Westerman converted magnificently from the touchline and the loose forward was again on target when Shenton went in for his 2nd.

Dean Widders, again operating at left centre, broke clear before handing on to the supporting Kirk Netherton, who was hauled down just short. The ball was moved across before Westerman found Shenton who stepped inside and raced through a big hole in the Bradford defence to score under the posts.

With the Tigers now running hot Widders again found the space to break and fed the supporting Michael Wainwright who was brilliantly tackled into touch by Bulls fullback Halley.

More Tigers pressure saw Ryan Clayton before Chase showed a clean pair of heels to cross for his 2nd try. Westerman again converted although he missed with the next when attempting to convert his own try after bursting on to a McGoldrick pass to score near the corner. 

The home side tried to force their way back into the game and when Thaler awarded a scrum after Shenton had fielded a Jeffries kick. The centre tried to get up so not to be penalised for a voluntary tackle and whilst Bradford defenders tried to halt him the centre offloaded. Thaler claimed to have called the tackle complete and awarded Bradford 'head & feed'.

From the resulting play Sam Burgess charged through a gap to score from a Deacon pass. The scrum half converted and when Newton ran the ball on the last tackle to send Jeffries through a gap to score under the posts Paul Sykes converted from bang in front.

With 12 minutes left and the scores level the stage was set for another late dramatic ending.

McGoldrick was penalised for a high tackle on Deacon and then Chase brilliantly caught a 'bomb' from Deacon on the full despite pressure from Sykes and Menzies. Then as the home side pushed for the win a long pass from Newton was interceptd by Widders. With 70 metres or so of field ahead of the big Aussie set off to outpace the defence for a memorable score. Westerman added a simple conversion to make it 6 from 7 attempts.

With little over 5 minutes left it was surely time to shut up shop but there was still some drama to follow. Burgess regained possession from the kick off and tried to launch a Bulls attack. Confusion and panic on the last tackle cost the home side metres and Cas were able to bring the ball away and a Chase drop goal attempt went wide as the Tigers tried to kill off the game.

As the game entered the final minute Cas attacked the Bulls line but instead of kicking the ball in to touch on the last tackle and eating up the clock, Chase chose to run the ball and fed Wainwright on the short side. The winger kicked forward but only found Halley who stepped his way through the Cas defence. He then found open space and a foot race between the 2 fullbacks ensued. As Owen looked like getting his man Halley flung the ball inside and Jeffries was first to it and the Bulls stand off darted in to score.

With time almost up Deacon had the conversion to level the scores and send both teams home with a point. With the final hooter sounding the ball sailed wide and the Cas fans were able to celebrate another 2 point victory.

Chase was again impressive in a 2 try display, along with Owen, Westerman and the pacy Widders. Sargent worked hard and Ryan Boyle made some good yards but looked a little lazy in defence being pulled up a couple of times for not getting back the 10 metres. Feather also made an impact from the bench and gave Cas some momentum in the early stages of the 2nd half and will be looking forward to more game time over the next few weeks.  

Matterson will be no doubt pleased with the win although will have been tearing out the remaining strands of hair with some of the defence that was on show and will be looking for a significant improvement in next weeks 4 pointer as Hull visit The Jungle. He will also be hoping that Hudson and Sherwin are available for selection to give him options as well as leadership on the field.

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

Bulls: Halley, Tadulala, Sykes, Nero, Sherriffe, Jeffries, Deacon, Lynch, Newton, Scruton, Menzies, Langley, Burgess. Subs: Godwin, Worrincey, Donaldson, Kopziak.

Referee: Ben Thaler                                   Attendance: 8971

Normytigers Man of the Match

1st Rangi Chase 3 points

2nd Dean Widders 2 points

3rd Richard Owen 1 point