Doncaster 6 Castleford 30

MATCH REPORT TAKEN FROM WWW.CASTIGERS.NET

The Tigers became the first side to win a competitive RL game at the Keepmoat stadium with a comfortable 30-6 win over Doncaster Lakers this afternoon.

Cas were in control from the start with Tommy Saxton crossing on his second "debut". Danny Brough was passed fit to start and added the first 2 of his 6 points.

 There were also tries to Andy Henderson and debutants Stuart Donlan and Richard Owen as Cas turned around 20-0 ahead. Dwayne Barker and Henderson again scored in the second half to extend the lead to 30 points before a late Loz Wildbore try, goaled by Graham Holroyd, reduced the margin.

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Castleford 48 Featherstone 10

MATCH REPORT TAKEN FROM www.castigers.com

After an even first forty when Cas led 10-8 at the break, the Tigers ran away with the second half with some exciting rugby to clinch an impressive win over their local rivals Featherstone.

The match was watched by 6,871 with Tommy Saxton winning the MOM.
In the opening 40, Rovers went well with Tiger Handforth prompting his new side well. The visitors opened the scoring but their try from Ross was their only one. In the first half the Tigers scored tries through Saxton and Donlan.
The second half though was a different story with the Tigers open rugby taking the game to Featherstone who managed just one penalty goal. For the Tigers Donlan completed his hat trick and Charles grabbed a couple. With many of the Tigers tries out wide Brough did well to kick 5 goals, Huby adding the last.
Peter Lupton was a late withdrawal for the Tigers.

Castleford 38 Sheffield 12

Match Report taken from http://www.ctsc.org.uk written by NormyTiger

The Tigers continued their unbeaten run in the NRC group game against a spirited but outclassed Sheffield Eagles at The Jungle.

In front of a crowd of 5108 the Tigers were comfortable winners with scrum half Danny Brough the inspiration with a try, 5 goals and also sent out a fabulous long pass to send youngster Richard Owen in for his 2nd try of the season.

Alongside Brough there were notable performances from props, Mark Leafa, Craig Huby, Liam Higgins and Ryan Boyle who all made great yards. Chris Charles, Ryan Clayton, Tommy Saxton and Andy Henderson also made telling contributions for the Tigers.


Coach Terry Matterson used the game to give some valuable game time to some of the younger members of the squad by handing Joe Westerman a start at loose forward whilst Boyle and Michael Knowles both started on the bench.

From the off Cas were able to make ground and it was no surprise that they were soon on the scoreboard. Brough’s 5th minute 40-20 set up the position for Ryan McGoldrick to send Saxton through for a try under the posts. Brough converted but was unable to add the extras to Owen’s score in the corner, 5 minutes later.

Centre Stuart Donlan was next to cross the whitewash when he dummied his way for his fifth try of the season. Brough this time added a towering conversion from the touchline and at 16-0 after 20 minutes it looked like Cas would be clocking up a big score, unfortunately for the Cas faithful that was the end of the first half scoring although on another day they may have been able to turn some of the chances created into points

From the restart Cas were soon on the attack and after a couple of penalties helped them apply a bit of pressure skipper Henderson forced his way over from dummy half. The next few minutes belonged to Brough as he first converted Henderson’s try he then showed some fancy footwork to score behind the sticks. His spin and sidesteps were straight out of ‘Strictly Come Dancing’ and he duly tagged on the 2 points.

It was a further 15 minutes before the scoreboard moved although; Charles, Knowles, Henderson and centre Kirk Dixon all went close for the Tigers before Greg Hurst caught Dominic Brambani’s high kick to get the Eagles off the mark.

Two further Tigers tries from McGoldrick and Boyle and a Brough conversion looked to have completed the scoring but Sheffield 2nd row Ged Corcoran crashed over as the hooter sounded. Brambani again converted to give a final score of Cas 38 Sheffield 12.

Next up for Cas is a trip to Featherstone who will be looking to avenge last weeks result. Rovers win over Doncaster will see them in confident mood but the Tigers should be strong enough to maintain their unbeaten start to the season.

Featherstone 16 Castleford 22

Match Report taken from http://www.ctsc.org.uk written by NormyTiger

Castleford Tigers extended their unbeaten run to 4 games in a tight Northern Rail Cup tie at the Chris Moyles Stadium, taking the spoils 16-22.

Tigers boss Terry Matterson shuffled his pack once again with Tommy Saxton and Liam Higgins being rested they were replaced by Awen Guttenbiel and Jason Payne. Stuart Donlan slotted in at full back as Saxton’s replacement with Ryan Clayton starting in the Donlan’s centre spot. Ryan Boyle started at prop with Mark Leafa dropping back to the bench.

In a game played in dreadful conditions it was Cas who started brightest and were soon on the scoreboard when Kirk Dixon crossed for the opening try after neat work from Danny Brough and Ryan McGoldrick. Brough failed to add the conversion from the right touchline but soon made amends adding the extras to Andy Henderson’s 10th minute try. Henderson darted over from dummy half after the position had been set up by Brough’s superb 40-20.

Rovers started to claw their way back into the game and Paul Hughes took advantage of some hesitation in the Cas defence to force his way over for a 15th minute score which was converted by prop Stuart Dickens. Six minutes later the scores were level as Richard Owen failed to deal with a kick through and Wayne McHugh pounced to score in the corner. Dickens couldn’t add the extras this time but was on hand to convert former Tigers player Paul Handforth’s 38th minute try.

In between Dixon got his 2nd try of the game when he crossed wide out after great play from McGoldrick. Again it was too wide for Brough to convert but he did add the two points to the try of the game, scored by Chris Charles. Henderson broke from dummy half and fed Dwayne Barker who then gave Clayton room to make good yards before sending a beautifully timed inside pass for Charles to cross.

At the break Cas led by 4 at 16-20 and the only points of a hard fought second half came from the boot of Brough courtesy of a 78th minute penalty.

Cas skipper Henderson spent 10 minutes in the sin bin for a late challenge on Handforth and he was joined by Gareth Handford for a high shot on Guttenbiel less than 5 minutes later.

Both defences were tested during the 2nd half but were up to the challenge as fatigue set in with the energy sapping conditions.

Handforth and his half back partner Chris Ross were both prominent for Featherstone especially in the period just before half time with a series of clever kicks that forced the Tigers to make several goal line drop outs.

For the Tigers Henderson was again outstanding in defence and made some good ground from dummy half, Brough and McGoldrick constantly tried to get the forwards running and there were big contributions from Leafa, Charles and from subs Jason Payne and Michael Knowles but my man of the match is Ryan Boyle who carried the ball forward to great effect and put in some tremendous work in defence with some big hits.

Next week sees a break from the NRC with the Tigers playing host to local amateur side Castleford Lock Lane in an intriguing Challenge Cup tie as the ‘Road to Wembley’ gets under way.

Sheffield 6 Castleford 44

Match Report taken from http://www.ctsc.org.uk written by NormyTiger

nother week, another win as the Tigers clipped the Eagles wings at the Don Valley Stadium with a comfortable 44-6 victory in front of a crowd of 1897.

Cas boss Terry Matterson was able to field a near full strength side as long term casualties Peter Lupton, Tere Glassie and Michael Shenton were fit again whilst there were recalls for Stuart Donlan, Tommy Saxton, Kirk Dixon, Mike Wainwright, Danny Brough, Andy Henderson, Mark Leafa, Chris Charles, all of who were rested for last weeks game against Lock Lane.

Cas started brightly and within the first 10 minutes had scored 2 tries through Donlan and Leafa as well as Dixon having one ruled out for a forward pass. Donlan’s opener came after only 3 minutes as Wainwright and Dixon combined well to create the opportunity. The impressive Leafa then backed up a great break by Chris Charles to score near the posts and Brough tagged on the extras to give the Tigers a 10-0 lead with only 7 minutes on the clock.

Shenton was next to cross forcing his way over in the corner for a comeback try which was magnificently converted by Brough who was then able to add the next 6 points for Cas when he perfectly timed an interception opportunity and raced 65 metres for a try between the sticks. He routinely added the conversion to take the Tigers tally to 22 points in 20 minutes.

Sandwiched in between the Shenton and Brough tries came Sheffield’s only score when stand off Lindsay followed up his own kick to score from close range. Woodcock added the 2 to this 15th minute try to complete the Eagles scoring.

Cas ended the half without adding to their score although Henderson, Higgins and Barker (twice) crossed the line but were unable to ground the ball, whilst the Eagles finished the half with 12 men as prop Aston (10)was sent to the sin bin. The Eagles also had substitute Stringer (17) binned late in the game for back chat.

Higgins was despatched to the sin bin early in the 2nd half for a late challenge on a Sheffield kicker, but it didn’t stop the Tigers from keeping the score ticking over.

Shenton crossed for his 2nd to equal younger brother Alex’s exploits from the previous week, after great work by Dixon, Wainwright, Charles and Saxton. Brough again converted from wide out and was on target again when Donlan took Leafa’s offload to score his 2nd.

Five minutes later Barker benefited from great work down the Tigers left as Henderson, Lupton, Shenton, Donlan all combined to send the sub over for an unconverted score.

Referee Hewer then put the top hat on an indifferent performance with a couple of outrageous decisions against the Tigers. Firstly he penalised Donlan for not playing the ball when it was clear to everyone in the stadium that he had been pushed whilst attempting to and then he pulled them up for breaking too quickly from a scrum deep in the Eagles 20.

The final Cas try came from Lupton as he showed great strength and skill to score from close range after Ryan Boyle had created the space with a fine offload. Brough again added the 2 points to round of the scoring.

Another solid display from Cas although there are still areas that can be improved on.

Henderson was busy as ever and there were notable contributions from Brough, Barker, Boyle and Lupton but the my man of the match goes to Mark Leafa, who not only got through a lot of the hard work but added to that with a well taken try and some great offloads.

Next week sees the Tigers entertain Doncaster Lakers in the final NRC group game.

Castleford 64 v Doncaster 8

Match Report taken from http://www.ctsc.org.uk written by NormyTiger

Castleford Tigers continued their unbeaten start to the season with a 12 try demolition of the Lakers in the final NRC group game at The Jungle coming out on top by 64-8.

A crowd of 4618 saw Danny Brough inspire the Tigers with a try and 6 goals whilst Richard Owen, Mike Wainwright and Awen Guttenbiel all contributed with 2 tries a piece.

Despite such an emphatic score line it was Doncaster who took the lead through a Loz Wildbore penalty after the Tigers were pulled up for a high tackle but the lead was short lived as Brough sent Tommy Saxton in for a try which the scrum half converted. Skipper Andy Henderson was then held up over the line before Stand off Ryan McGoldrick sent out a great pass to Wainwright who finished well in the corner. Brough was off target with the touchline conversion attempt.

McGoldrick sent Dixon through a gap and then Craig Huby went close before Ryan Clayton crossed from Brough’s beautifully timed pass. The scrum half was again unable to add the extras but was back on target after sending the impressive Dwayne Barker in to score near the posts. Thirty three minutes gone and the game was pretty much over as a contest and it seemed just a matter of how many points the Tigers would rack up.

Doncaster did manage to get on the score sheet again as stand off Joe McLocklan rounded Saxton to score between the uprights and Wildbore tagged on the conversion.

The second half was only 2 minutes old when Rikki Sheriffe was tackled in goal and within a minute Wainwright was in for he 2nd taking a wonderful pass from Kirk Dixon to score in the corner. Again Brough was on target with the conversion.

Two minutes later Richard Owen looked a certain scorer as he followed up Brough’s inch perfect kick over the top only to be tackled without the ball by Lakers full back Wildbore. This saw him spend 10 minutes in the sin bin and unbelievably referee Hicks only awarded a penalty instead of a penalty try. It didn’t matter too much as Guttenbiel powered over for his first try in Cas colours which was followed by his 2nd 11 minutes later following up Brough’s deflected kick.

Both tries were converted by the scrum half who had failed with 2 attempts that came between Guttenbiel’s 2 scores. The first one when to Peter Lupton who backed up a scintillating break from Brough and then Dixon went in of a ball from McGoldrick.

The biggest shock of the afternoon followed as it took the Tigers almost 15 minutes to extend their lead though they finished with a flourish scoring 3 tries in the last 10.
Owen crossed for the first of his brace after good work from Barker and Joe Westerman. Brough added the extras and then chipped over for Owen to collect at pace before returning the ball to the scrum half to weave his way over. That was his last touch of the game going of to a tremendous ovation and in his absence Dixon stroked the ball between the uprights for the extra 2 and then was on target again as Owen’s 2nd completed the rout.

Terry Matterson must have been delighted with the performance and with a Challenge Cup tie away at Bradford next will be travelling there looking for a big performance.

Danny Brough was again the star of the show but there were excellent performances all over the park in particular Barker, Wainwright, Saxton, Owen and Dixon all looked dangerous in attack whilst defensively Liam Higgins, Andy Henderson and Tere Glassie were outstanding.

Most notably though both Awen Guttenbeil and Ryan McGoldrick stepped up the level of their performances and looked class acts which should give us a great lift going to the SL table-toppers as well as in to the NL1 campaign the following week.