Castleford 28 Widnes 8

Castleford 42 Widnes 10

Match report Courtesy of The Sporting Life. © PA Sporting Life.

Castleford reclaimed their place in Super League with an easy 42-10 win in a National League Grand Final thought to be worth around £4million to the victors.
For the second time in three years the Tigers bounced back from relegation at the first attempt, and this time they look set to stay in the top flight with three-year licences set to be awarded from 2009.

Castlefords hero was scrum-half Danny Brough, who has signed for rivals Wakefield next season but provided them with a parting gift in the shape of a match-winning farewell performance in front of a National League record crowd of 20,814 at Headingley.
The brilliant former Hull half-back was involved in five of the Tigers seven tries and also kicked 14 points to claim the Tom Bergin Trophy as man of the match by some distance.

Castlefords record score eclipsed their 36-8 rout of Whitehaven in the 2005 final but joy in their camp contrasted sharply with abject misery among the Widnes players who suffered Grand Final heartbreak for the second successive season.
No-one felt the grief more keenly than Vikings coach Steve McCormack who has now lost four Grand Finals in a row, having experienced defeat with Whitehaven in 2004 and 2005.

Castleford hero Danny Brough delivered the perfect parting gift as the Tigers clinched a return to Super League with a record 42-10 win over Widnes in the National League One Grand Final.

The former Hull half-back recently signed a three-year deal with Wakefield but signed off with a dream match-winning performance to ensure he would be playing against the Tigers in 2008. Brough was the overwhelming choice as man of the match after being involved in five of Castlefords seven tries, in addition to kicking six goals and two drop goals in the biggest-ever National Grand Final win. He broke down in tears at the post-match press conference when asked to compare his farewell performance with his heroics for Hull in their 25-24 Challenge Cup win over Leeds in 2005. "Its obviously gut-wrenching having to go," he said. "It was something I chose to do for the stability of my family. "Its more satisfying than the cup final for me personally because people doubted my commitment to Cas. Im chuffed to bits for Cas."

Brough sent assistant coach Awen Guttenbeil over for two tries and put in the kicks that brought others for Michael Wainwright and Ryan McGoldrick before half-time.
Castleford coach Terry Matterson, who stuck with the Tigers when they were relegated from Super League 12 months ago, praised the contribution of his scrum-half and admitted his sides performance was close to perfection.

"He was outstanding but he couldnt have done it without the platform laid by the forwards, who were magnificent," said Matterson. "We've had a couple of ups and downs this year but its about getting it right for this game. Weve worked hard for 12 months for this performance. "We can now put the demons of the last 12 months behind us and move on."

Castleford's record score eclipsed their 36-8 rout of Whitehaven in the 2005 final but joy in their camp contrasted sharply with abject misery among the Widnes players who suffered Grand Final heartbreak for the second successive season.

Nowhere was the grief more keenly felt than in Vikings coach Steve McCormack, who has now lost four Grand Finals in a row, having experienced defeat with Whitehaven in 2004 and 2005. "We saved our worst performance for the most important game of the season," said McCormack. "Its hard for anybody associated with Widnes to take. "Castleford were far superior from the first second to the last. I thought they were fantastic."

McCormack is facing an uncertain future, amid rumours of a return to Whitehaven, who parted company with Dave Rotheram at the end of the regular season.
"Its not about me," he said. "Ive not had time to think about the future. Whatever happens, happens."