Castleford 50 Workington 24

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

The cliché about the result being more important than the performance was never more apt than on this performance as the Tigers, after racing into an early lead, looked a little disjointed and had to withstand a spirited display from NL2 side Workington before securing the victory.

In a line-up lacking a host of regulars; Andy Henderson, Awen Guttenbiel, Chris Charles, Ryan Clayton, Michael Shenton and Peter Lupton, it was the youngsters who led the way, in particular Michael Knowles and Ryan Boyle, grasping their opportunities with both hands.

Cas started in spectacular style with 16 points on the board within the opening 10 minutes as Kirk Dixon, Tommy Saxton and Dwayne Barker all crossing for tries.

Dixon’s opener came with only 3 minutes on the clock when out jumped the Workington defence to take Danny Brough’s towering kick for an unconverted try. Brough was soon back on target converting the next 2 scores. First it was Saxton, taking an inside pass from Ryan McGoldrick after drives from Liam Higgins and Tere Glassie had set up the position, then Barker charged over from Stuart Donlan’s neat inside ball.

At this stage it looked as if the Tigers could score on every attack and another massive score looked on the cards, but a number of chances were wasted and gradually Town, prompted by their outstanding scrum half Liam Campbell, gained confidence.

The Tigers cause was not helped by the loss of the in-form Craig Huby with what appeared to be a serious looking knee injury. Huby was carried off on a stretcher and later left the ground on crutches.

Two tries in three minutes gave Town a deserved reward for their endeavors both to stand off Carl Forber, as he firstly followed up Campbell’s kick and then was on hand to support the scrum half’s neat break. Forber added conversions to both tries and at 16-12 Town was really in the hunt but on the stroke of half time Knowles followed up Brough’s kick to score a try to which Brough added the extras.

22-12 became 22-18 within 2 minutes of the restart as Campbell’s astute kick was followed up by Franco Kmet for a try which Forber again converted.

Knowles extended the Tigers lead with his 2nd try and then on 48 minutes McGoldrick fed Knowles who went close and his quick play the ball saw Saxton crash over from dummy half for his 2nd try of the game. Brough converted both tries and Cas were now 34-18 to the good.

Stand off McGoldrick was next to score after a run-around move with Dixon, Brough converted and then 2 tries in as many minutes sealed the victory.
Teenager Richard Owen gave himself an early birthday present (he’s 17 on Wednesday) showing his pace to score from 70 metre’s then a 50 metre kick off return by Boyle set up the position for Mark Leafa to charge over for a long range effort. Brough converted Leafa’s try to rack up the half century.

The last word went Workington though when scrum half Campbell broke from inside his own half to send Andrew Beattie in for a try which Forber again converted to give a final score of Castleford 50 Workington 24.

The draw for the quarter finals was made shortly after the final hooter and paired the Tigers with Leigh in a game to be played next month at The Jungle. The other ties saw Whitehaven at home to Barrow in an all Cumbria clash, Halifax entertain Celtic Crusaders and Cas’ next opponents Rochdale a home tie against Widnes.


Cas: - Saxton, Owen, Donlan, Dixon, Wainwright, McGoldrick, Brough, Higgins, Johnson, Huby, Leafa, Glassie, Barker. Subs Westerman, Boyle, Knowles, Payne

Town: - Lunt, Woodcock, Beattie, Frazer, Dawes, Forber, Campbell, McGuinness, King, Burgess, Ormesher, Miller, Purdham. Subs, Whitworth, Wilson, Kmet, Robinson

Castleford 42 Leigh 6

he Tigers returned to winning ways with an emphatic victory at The Jungle and in doing so set up a rematch with Widnes as the draw for the semis paired them together at The Halton Stadium, whilst the other tie sees Whitehaven entertain Halifax at The Recreation Ground.

With injury ruling out props Liam Higgins, Tere Glassie and Craig Huby, Coach Terry Matterson handed a rare start to Ryan Boyle with Mark Leafa at the other side of the front row. Tommy Saxton returned at full back with Stuart Donlan reverting to his usual position on the wing. Richard Owen dropped back to the bench and was joined by Michael Knowles, Joe Westerman and the returning Ryan Clayton. Peter Lupton joined Ryan McGoldrick in the half back berths as influential scrum half Danny Brough was a late withdrawal with a calf strain.

Cas stated well and took only 3 minutes to get on the scoreboard when the ball was moved out wide by McGoldrick to Lupton who dummied his way through the Leigh line to create the space to send Mike Wainwright in at the corner. Kirk Dixon, who took over the goal kicking duties in Brough’s absence, was off target with the conversion attempt.

Dixon hit the target with his next attempt after Michael Shenton followed up McGoldrick’s neat kick. This try followed a lengthy stoppage whilst Leigh 2nd row Adam Rudd lay motionless after an accidental blow to the head. Reports after the game seemed to indicate that he had stopped breathing when the medical staff got to him but that he recovered sufficiently to travel back across The Pennines on the team coach after the game.

Two Dwayne Barker tries then effectively ended the game as a contest. The 1st came after a Lupton kick had pinned Leigh back close to their line, winger Alstead lost possession and the Tigers back row dived on the loose ball for the 4 pointer. Dixon was again on target but missed from a similar position when Barker crashed over from a Lupton pass.

By now it was one way traffic as the Centurions error count grew and when Lupton hoisted a towering bomb Leafa made a fantastic catch to charge over for a try which Dixon again converted.

The final score of the half went McGoldrick, who had his best game for a while, but owed much to the impressive Barker who took a pass from Saxton to find room to get a superb pass behind the man to the supporting Aussie for a classy try which again Dixon converted to take the half time score to 32-0.

The Centurions hit back for their solitary try 3 minute after the break. Loose forward Chris Charles kick to the corner was fielded by ex Rhinos winger Leroy Rivett who raced 70 metres before being caught by Lupton. The ball was transferred across the line to give French centre Damien Couturier a walk in to which he duly added the extras.
Two quick fire tries from The Tigers ended the scoring whilst the Centurions scrum half Aaron Heremaia was in the sin bin. Ryan Clayton took a great pass out of the tackle from McGoldrick for an unconverted score and then Donlan took his season’s tally to 18 when he hacked on a loose pass from Knowles and beat the cover for a score which Dixon again converted. The final score line Cas 42 Leigh 6.

The spirit in the performance late on as Leigh full back Miles Greenwood broke through the Tigers defence but was hauled down a couple of metres short by Saxton. The force of the tackle also dislodged the ball from Greenwood’s grasp, a real try saver.

This was by no means a classic as Leigh struggled to handle the wet conditions but the Tigers performance was workmanlike and spirited and they adapted to both the conditions and the absence of key players well to cruise into the last 4.

A tricky trip to The Shay is next up for Cas who hope to be boosted by the return of Higgins, Glassie and Huby whilst Lupton could be facing a lay off leaving the field before the end of the game with what appeared to be a hamstring injury.

Widnes 18 Castleford 12