Castleford Tigers Supporters Club

Another home game and another defeat by a couple of points. It seems to be the way of the season so far for the Tigers.

Still without the injured James Evans, Ryan Hudson and Brent Sherwin, Terry Matterson continued with Dean Widders operating in the centre and the influential Rangi Chase starting at hooker whilst Sione Faumuina and Ryan McGoldrick taking up the half back roles.

For the Dragons, ex-Tiger Oliver Elima started in the 2nd row whilst the half back roles were filled by Aussie Adam Mogg and French international Thomas Bosc.

The Dragons were first on the attack when Elima broke down the right hand side before the ball was transferred to the left where, with a clear opportunity to score, Demitri Pelo lost possession on the last tackle. The let off was to prove costly as the Tigers surged forward and a high kick from Chase was spilled by Steven Bell, under pressure from Michael Shenton and Brett Ferres pounced on the loose ball for the opening try.

Kirk Dixon was unable to convert but added the extras when Chase switched the direction of play and found McGoldrick. The popular Aussie found Faumuina who fed Richard Owen who showed his pace to go in for the 2nd score of the game.

10-0 in front and the Tigers went hunting more points as Dixon broke down the right after McGoldrick and Joe Westerman had creatted the space. Another Chase bomb was spilled by Bell as Faumuina put the winger under pressure, luckily for the French outfit, Clint Greenshields tidied up.

Casey McGuire and Mogg combined and fed Jason Croker who spilled the ball with the line open. As the Dragons tried to get back into the game Bosc put a neat kick through and Owen was tackled over his own try line by Elima.

Ferres went close for Cas and Bell and Croker both close for the Dragons before a long pass from Bosc found Jean-Phillipe Baille who sent Pelo in at the corner. Despite the hint of a double movement, referee Ian Smith awarded the try without going to the video referee. Bosc goaled from the touchline, magnificently.

The visitors were soon on level terms as Mogg and Bosc again combined well to send Baille in for the Dragons second try. Bosc couldn't convert on this occasion and the scores stayed level until the break, although Cas fans felt they had taken the lead through Owen, who was now operating on the wing as Dixon had left the field injured. Chase and Westerman created the chance but with Greenshields applying the pressure video ref Phil Bentham ruled 'No Try'.  

As the 2nd half started, Mogg knocked on from the kick off and as Cas battered the line, Jason Ryles was penalised for offside giving Westerman a simple goal to edge the home side in front. Another mistake form the kick off as Bosc kicked out on the full gave Cas another opportunity and when Cyril Gossard went high on McGoldrick, Westerman again added a penalty goal to extend the lead to 4 points.

A mistake by Michael Wainwright put Cas under pressure and after Gossard had gone close Jerome Guisset knocked on with the line wide open. Shenton had one ruled out by the video ref as he knocked on in the act of scoring after a Faumuina kick before Bosc's kick was brilliantly taken by Greenshields for a try beside the posts. Bosc converted to edge the visitors in front.

Croker again went close for the visitors before David Ferriol forced his way over under the posts. Bentham was again asked to decide the outcome, ruling out the score and as Catalns continued to press Pelo again knocked on and a try went begging.

Chase was penalised for a voluntary tackle and from the resulting set of 6 Bosc and Mogg again created the opprtunity for Dane Carlaw to charge through for a try which Bosc converted and the Dragons held an 8 point advantage.

The Tigers began to chase the game and as they kept the ball alive Westerman carried on the movement after a Chase break. A kick by Chase was forced dead by Greenshields. McGoldrick and Chase then created the space for Widders to send Owen in at the corner with a beautifully timed pass. Westerman struck a fabulous touchline conversion to reduce the deficit to 2 points with 4 minutes left on the clock.

A 40-20 by Chase gave Cas another opportunity as they went all out for the win but when Chase put a kick through the Dragons defence forced the ball dead and with only a few seconds left on the clock referee Smith let the clock run down, much to the disgust of some of the Tigers fans.

Despite the outrage shown to referee Smith, in truth the Tigers made too many basic errors to record the win and the visitors deservedly went home with the 2 league points.

A visit to Bradford is next up for the Tigers who will be looking to get back to winning ways and with the likes of Hudson and Sherwin approaching fitness an opportunity to get on a roll as they look to make a late charge for a play off spot.

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

Catalans: Greenshields, Bell, Baille, Croker, Pelo, Mogg, Bosc, Ferriol, McGuire, Guisset, Elima, Gossard, Carlaw. Subs: Casty, Mounis, Perry, Ryles

Referee: Ian Smith                              Attendance: 5508

Normytiger's Man of the Match

1st Richard Owen 3 points

2nd Michael Shenton 2 points

3rd Rangi Chase 1 point