Castleford Tigers Supporters Club

Another away trip brings another victory for the Castleford Tigers as Terry Matterson's men made the long trip to The Brewery Field, Bridgend and took the spoils with a 34-22 win to maintain their 100% away record.

The Tigers didn't have it all their own way with the Crusaders leading for long spells of the game but in the end the Tigers showed great resilience to cross for 3 late tries from Michael Wainwright, Michael Shenton and Brent Sherwin to snatch the victory. 

Cas were missing Joe Westerman and Craig Huby although were boosted by the return of Stuart Jones & James Evans into the starting line-up whilst Brett Ferres and Chris Feather returned to take places on the bench alongside James Ford and Ryan Boyle. Richard Owen started at full back with Ryan McGoldrick slotting in at loose forward.

The Tigers got off to a slow start and a succession of penalties allowed the home side to build up the early pressure and that pressure eventually told as Ryan O'Hara crossed for a try which Damien Quinn converted. More pressure on the Tigers line and prop Adam Peek forced his way over for a 2nd Celtic try. This time Quinn was off target but a 10-0 scoreline was more than deserved as the Tigers had shown very little in attack at this stage. 

Cas began to build some pressure of their own and that told when Boyle crossed, fro an Evans pass, for a try under the posts. Kirk Dixon converted and the Tigers were back in the hunt.

The score stayed at 10-6 until the 36th minute when the ball moved to the Tigers right and Evans went over for a try, after good work from Sherwin and McGoldrick. Dixon again converted to put Cas in front 12-10. If the travelling Cas fans thought they'd take that lead into the break they were to be disappointed as Celtic prop David Tangata Toa broke from almost 50 metres to score a magnificent solo try which Quinn again converted to give the home side a 16-12 lead at the interval.   

Evans went close to scoring in the corner but Mark Dalle Cort and Paul Ballard forced the centre touch in goal. As the Crusaders attacked Dalle Cort's pass to Ballard was knocked down by Dixon to give the home side another set of 6. Neil Budworth's inside pass saw Tangata Toa crash over only to be held up over the line but Jace Van Dijk's grubber kick saw O'Hara pounce for his 2nd to extend the Crusaders lead. Quinn again goaled and Celtic Crusaders lead 22-12 with 30 minutes still remaining.

Sherwin, after a quiet 1st half, started to find his form and his crossfield kick was taken by Dixon for the winger to score and he also added the conversion to reduce the deficit with 20 minutes remaining.

Ferres then sent Michael Wainwright over in the corner to level the scores, after Sherwin had handled twice. Dixon's magnificent touchline conversion put Cas back in front and broke the spirit of the Crusaders.

Dixon was unable to add the extras as Shenton finished of good work from McGoldrick and Sherwin before the Aussie scrum half crossed for his 1st try in Tigers colours in the final minute which Dixon converted to complete the scoring.

A hard fought win for the Tigers in a game they would not have wanted to lose, no team will want to be the 1st beaten by Celtic Crusaders. It was also important to bounce back after last week's heavy defeat at home to Saints.

Next up is the 'Magic Weekend' fixture against Hull FC as Superleague heads 'North of the Border' and make the pilgrimage to Edinburgh's Murrayfield Stadium. A win in the Scottish capital will ensure that they go into the following week' Challenge Cup tie against Halifax in confident mood before taking on the Leeds Rhinos in front of a full house at The Jungle and also the Sky cameras.

Tigers: Owen, Dixon, Evans, Shenton, Wainwright, Chase, Sherwin, Netherton, Higgins, Jones, Faumuina, McGoldrick. Subs: Boyle, Ford, Feather, Ferres

Crusaders: Chalk, Dyer, Hannay, Dalle Cort, Ballard, Quinn, Van Dijk, O'Hara, Withers, Chan, Peek, Lupton, Beesley. Subs: Bryant, Budworth, JAmes, Tangata Toa.

Referee: Thierry Allibert                            Attendance: 2857

Normytiger's Man of the Match

1st Brent Sherwin 3 points

2nd Ryan McGoldrick 2 points

3rd Chris Feather 1 point