erry Matterson's reign as Castleford coach got off to a victorious start with a 28-4 win over local rivals Featherstone.
The newly-promoted Tigers fielded only seven first-team players for the Boxing Day friendly against a Rovers side recently relegated to National League Two.
Nevertheless two tries from Andy Kain, plus further scores from Paul Handforth, Jack Goodacre and Michael Shenton were sufficient to ensure a comfortable win.
Stout Featherstone defending meant that the Tigers had to wait a full half-hour before Kain darted over for his first.
But the Rovers' defence was again breached eight minutes later when Handforth chased his own kick to hand the Tigers a 12-0 lead.
Featherstone's own attacking moves were thwarted by handling errors and, although Wayne Sutcliffe grabbed a consolation try, further scores from Goodacre, Shenton and Kain - who also kicked one goal alongside Richard Fletcher's three - sealed the win.
Tries: Dyer 2, Shenton 2, Pryce 2,
Blanch
Conversions: Huby, Kain
Drop Goal: Handforth
Referee Richard Silverwood
Teams
Tigers
Deon Bird, Waine Pryce, Michael Shenton, Luke Dyer, Damien Blanch, Paul
Handforth, Andy Kain, Danny Sculthorpe, Andrew Henderson, Danny Nutley, Craig
Huby, Matt Whittaker, Richard Fletcher SUBS
Keith Mason, Gray Viane, Byron Smith, Richard Fa'aoso, Willie Manu
Colum Halpenny, Austin Buchanan, Jason Demetriou, Kevin King, Semi Tadulala, Ben
Jeffries , Andy Speake, Michael Korkidas, David March, Duncan
McGillivray,Olivier Elmia, Dale Ferguson, Mark Applegarth
SUBS Scott McDonald, Jon Gledhill, Danny
Samuels, Craig Cawthray, Ben Walkin,Aaron Dobek, Jamie Burnett, Alex Monkford,
Jordon Horsefield
Castleford geared up for their return to engage Super League with a seven-try triumph over a depleted Wakefield Wildcats team.
Australian Luke Dyer, winger Waine Pryce and Michael Shenton all crossed twice for the Tigers, who handed debuts to seven off-season recruits.
Dyer and Pryce opened their accounts inside eight minutes as Wakefield, who rested all four of their new signings, crumbled under early pressure.
Winger Semi Tadulala put the Wildcats on the board before Dyer streaked over to make it 16-4.
However, the Wildcats hit back with a try double from three-quarter Jason Demetriou in the final two minutes of the first half, and with hooker David March adding the extras the match was all square at the break.
Pryce completed his brace, courtesy of a fine pass from debutant Richard Fa'aoso, only for Wakefield to again hit back as winger Austin Buchanan climbed highest to touch down off Ben Jeffries' pinpoint kick.
But Cas finished with a flourish, running in three tries in the final 10 minutes, including a superb double from Shenton.
On 70 minutes the teenager evaded a clutch of defenders to cross and four minutes later showed good strength to barge his way past two would-be tacklers.
Former Wakefield half-back Paul Handforth landed a drop-goal to make the game safe and Australian winger Damien Blanch put the icing on the cake by twisting his way over in the final minute.