Castleford Tigers Supporters Club

Another week and another defeat as a depleted Tigers travelled to the league leaders and came away on the end of a 50-10 reversal.

Already without Ryan Hudson and Brent Sherwin through injury, England call ups for Michael Shenton and Joe Westerman and the late withdrawal of James Evans forced Terry Matterson into a major reshuffle with players selected in unfamiliar roles. International call ups also hit Saints depriving them of James Graham and James Roby.

The Tigers started brightly and shocked the home side when Rangi Chase put Brett Ferres through a gap to score and with a Kirk Dixon conversion Cas had a 6-0 lead after only 5 minutes.

That lead was short-lived as Saints hit back in typical fashion. Leon Pryce sliced through for a try on 14 minutes and Sean Long's conversion levelled the scores. Moments later Chris Dean went in from a Long pass 30 metres out this time Lon's conversion attempt hit the upright.

Saints were now dominant and Chris Flannery knocked on over the Cas line. After a 40-20 by Long, Paul Wellens was held short of the line but from the play the ball Keiron Cunningham scored one of his rademark tries forcing his way over. Long again hit the post with his conversion attempt but the scrum half was back on target when Pryce sent Jon Wilkin in for the Saints 4th try.

The scores stayed at 20-6 until the break although after back to back penalties Sione Faumuina and Ryan Clayton went close before Mitchell Sargent knocked on at the play the ball. There was still time for Faumuina to clatter Long with an almighty hit, which he repeated early in the 2nd half on Wellens. 

Saints started the 2nd half meaning business and Wilkin breaking and a Maurie Fa'asavalu was bravely halted by Richard Owen. Owen suffered what appeared to be a serious shoulder injury in that tackle but returned to the field of play later in the game. The full back was replaced by Academy prospect Jordan Thompson who came on to make his debut for the Tigers.  

Cas bravely fought back and reduced the arrears when a high kick by Chase was caught by Dixon to score although he could not add the extras but the deficit had been cut to 10 points.

Again Saints began to dominate and hit back with a try from Long after a Cunningham offload. Long converted then a Pryce kick ricocheted to Johnny Lomax to score in the corner before the youngster broke to send a pass inside to Kyle Eastmond to score. Eastmond added conversions to both tries to take the score to 38-10.

Dixon was unable to take a Chase kick cleanly but the ball went back to Faumuina but the Kiwi forward was tackled in possession on the last tackle. Faumuina then put in another big hit on Fa'asavalu before Saints responded with 2 late tries.

Tony Puletua sent Paul Clough in before Lee Gilmour went through a gap to send Eastmond in for his 2nd try. Eastmond converted both tries for a personal haul of 16 points.

Another tough away trip awaits the Tigers when they visit the Galpharm Stadium for a Sky televised clash against Huddersfield Giants before a home fixture against Catalans Dragons again in front of the Sky cameras.

Tigers: Owen, Wainwright, Ferres, Dixon, Ford, McGoldrick, Chase, Higgins, Netherton, Huby, Widders, Jones, Faumuina. Subs: Sargent, Feather, Clayton, Thompson  

Saint: Wellens, Lomax, Gidley, Dean, Meli, Pryce, Long, Puletua, Cunningham, Hargreaves, Wilkin, Flannery, Gilmour. Subs: Clough, Eastmond, Fa'asavalu, Ashurst.

Referee: Ian Smith                           Attendance:

Normytigers Man of the Match

1st Sione Faumuina 3 points

2nd Rangi Chase 2 points

3rd Richard Owen 1 point