Castleford Tigers Supporters Club

After completing a rare Superleague double last week at Bradford, the Tigers made it back to back doubles with an impressive victory over Hull at The Jungle.

The final score of 40-18 even flattered the visitors as Cas romped in 7 tries, with a brace to the impressive Rangi Chase and hard working winger Michael Wainwright, yet had a further 5 scores chlaked off by failing to ground the ball cleanly including 3 for Richard Owen, who again impressed at fullback.

Skipper Ryan Hudson's return gave Cas a timely boost as they push for a play off spot and Kirk Dixon also came back into the lineup after missing the win at Bradford. Willie Manu was in an injury hit Hull side along with Danny Tickle, nursing a broken hand and new signing Josh Cordoba making his debut at prop.

As seems to be the case most weeks Cas got off to a flyer as a Chase kick was caught by Brett Ferres who was stopped just short on the last tackle. As Hull attemoted to clear their line, Tommy Lee sent out a long pass which was picked off by Chase who ran 20 metres for an easy score. Joe Westerman continued with the goal kicking duties and converted his 1st goal to give the home side an early lead.

Cas continued to dominate the early exchanges and Richard Horne made a meal of a Chase bomb to force a goal line drop out. Craig Huby and Mitchell Sargent did a little runaround move and when the ball went left Wainwright cut inside but was tackled short. Chase then put in a neat kick but Dean Widders couldn't take the ball cleanly and despite Sargent diving on the loose ball the first of the Tigers 'No Try' efforts was ruled.

Chase was at the heart of everything the Tigers did and when he was tackled just short, Huby pounced on Hudson's grubber kick for the next Cas score. Westerman again goaled and the Tigers now had a 12point lead.

Over recent weeks 2 scores was usually the trigger for the opposition to hit back but not this week as Cas continued to put pressure on the Hull line. Chris Feather was tackled just short, before the ball was moved left through Chase, Widders and then Ferres who supplied the final pass for Wainwright to cut inside Gareth Raynor to score his first of the afternoon. Westerman hit a magnificent touchline conversion to extend the lead further.  

Another Cas tilt at the Hull line saw Owen find a bit of space and when he kicked through he was unlucky not to ground the ball as he followed up. That was online temporary respite for the visitors as moments later Ryan Clayton broke through the Hull defensive line to race 40 metres and with Hudson in support drew Richard Horne to send his skipper in beside the posts. Westerman again goaled to give Cas a 24 point lead.

Chase was again leading the Tigers charge and his varied kicking game was causing the Hull defence all sorts of problems. Jodie Broughton dropped one of his bombs, under pressure from Shenton and Westerman and then Owen was unlucky not to ground a neat grubber kick over the FC line.

Manu then forced his way over from 10 metres out for  a Hull try which Tickle converted to reduce the deficit then Shaun Berrigan was held up after darting from close range but the scoreline remained 24-6 at the interval.

Within 4 minutes of the restart Chase dummied his way over from close range for a try which Westerman couldn't convert, his only miss of the day before Kirk Yeaman scored for Hull after they had kept the ball alive. Substitute Richard Whiting taking over the kicking duties to add the extras from wide out.

Dixon was held up over theline before a long pass from McGoldrick found Shenton and the England centre added another which Westerman converted with the help of the post and as the game entered it's final stages a neat move from a scrum saw Chase find Shenton who sent Wainwright in at the corner. Westerman converted again with some style from the touchline.

The final playof the game saw McGoldrick fire out a long pass which Broughton intercepted to race in for a consolation try for Hull. Whiting again converted to give a final score of Castleford 40 Hull 18.

Rangi Chase was once again the inspiration for the Tigers though he had great support from Shenton, Owen and skipper Hudson. Up front the props Huby, Feather, Sargent and Liam Higgins all worked hard whilst Westerman had an outstanding day with the boot, with a 6 from 7 return.

2 weeks on the road now for the Tigers as they visit Salford City Reds before a showdown with local rivals Wakefield in what will be a hard fought 4 pointer as they seek revenge for the Good Friday defeat at The Jungle.

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

Hull: R. Horne, Raynor, G. Horne, Yeaman, Raynor, Thorman, Berrigan, King, Lee, Cordoba, Manu, Tickle, Radford. Subs: Houghton, Whiting, Burnett, Moa

Referee: Jamie Leahy                         Attendance: 8297 

Normytiger's Man of the Match

1st Rangi Chase 3 points

2nd Ryan Hudson 2 points

3rd Richard Owen 1 point