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By Ian Laybourn, PA Sport Hooker James Lowes grabbed the 100th try of his career to snatch a dramatic victory which puts Bradford five points clear at the top of Super League. Castleford had led for virtually the whole match until Lowes, who had an earlier effort disallowed by the video referee, forced his way over in trademark fashion from acting half-back 10 minutes from the end. Lowes' landmark special tied the scores and enabled Steve McNamara to kick his fourth goal from as many attempts to deny the Tigers a famous victory. The result did little justice to the brave efforts of the visitors, who had held Bradford to an 18-18 draw at Wheldon Road in May and arrived at Odsal full of confidence following their memorable success over champions Wigan. They produced a confident and accomplished first-half display to seize the initiative, thanks largely to efforts of right winger Richard Gay, who scored two tries and set up another for stand-off Danny Orr, who converted all three tries to give his side a worthy 18-6 lead. Bradford twice rallied to cut the deficit to six points with tries from Nathan McAvoy and Stuart Spruce but they were outgunned for long periods by a side playing at the top of its form. The Bulls had no answer to the lively play of creative half-backs Brad Davis and Orr, who had tormented Wigan a week earlier, while rugged second row forward Dale Fritz blunted the home side's attack and full-back Jason Flowers was safe and secure under the high ball. Bradford upped the tempo at the start of the second half but the Tigers increased their lead on 54 minutes when centre Francis Maloney got a hand to a grubber kick from Aaron Raper just ahead of defender McAvoy. But Orr was off target for the first time with his conversion attempt and Bradford hit back almost immediately when stand-off Henry Paul went on a curving run from a scrum 20 metres out to cross at the corner. McNamara's goal made it 22-18 to set up a tense finale and century-maker Lowes completed a fairytale fightback when he plunged over the line for his milestone score. Castleford's misery was complete when the outstanding Fritz was placed on report for a high tackle on Stuart Fielden. Meanwhile, Bradford will send skipper Robbie Paul to see a specialist tomorrow in a bid to resolve his nagging foot injury. The Kiwi half-back was due to return tonight after a month on the sidelines but suffered reaction to Friday's training session. Castleford renewed their bid for a Super League play-off place by sending London tumbling to their third defeat in four games. The Broncos never looked like repeating this year's Challenge Cup semi-final victory over the Tigers who were 28-0 up at half-time. Francis Maloney grabbed a hat-trick of tries, Brad Davis and Mike Eagar both went in twice and Danny Orr kicked six goals as the Tigers bounced back from last weekend's 24-22 defeat at Bradford. Tigers full-back Jason Flowers was held up over the line and winger Richard Gay had a try disallowed before the Tigers took a 15th minute lead when Orr put Gay in at the corner. Castleford struck again four minutes later after a dreadful error by London's' Rob Smyth behind his own line. Davis' kick to the corner looked to be going dead but the ball caught Smyth's heel as he attempted to jump over it and bounced back for Maloney to score. It was quickly followed by Australian Davis' 100th try in British rugby after he capitalised on Aaron Raper's neat kick. London fell further behind in the 29th minute when Davis' kick deceived Brett Warton and Eagar latched onto the ball to grab his 14th try of the season. The Tigers made it 28-0 three minutes before half-time when Davis swapped passes with Maloney to go in for his second. Castleford went further ahead early in the second half when Raper put Eagar in for his second. There was no respite for London as Castleford skipper Adrian Vowles crossed three minutes later. London finally opened their account in the 50th minute when Shaun Edwards' kick set up a try for winger Brett Warton. But Castleford were still not finished and Lee Harland went over before Brad Hepi made the opening for Maloney's second. London, playing their third match in eight days kept plugging away and got late consolation tries from Ady Spencer and Edwards. But the Tigers had the last word with Maloney's hat-trick try six minutes from time. By Ian Laybourn, PA Sport Castleford improved their Super League play-off hopes with one of their easiest wins of the season at Sheffield. Winger Darren Rogers grabbed two tries, including the 100th of his career, as the Tigers brushed aside the meek challenge of the Eagles to close to within two points of fifth-placed Gateshead. It was Castleford's first Super League win at the Don Valley Stadium, and on this form they must be favourites to clinch the final play-off spot. With half-backs Danny Orr and Brad Davis in irrepressible form and Adrian Vowles and Aaron Raper skillfully creating play for the side's dangerous three quarters, the Tigers have that classy Cas look of old. That is not to say it needed anything special to see off a poor Sheffield side that lacked the imagination to break down an impressive defence and ruined most of their attacking moves with some appalling handling. The final try count was 5-0, and the visitors would have won even more comfortably had Orr been able to kick more than one of his six goal attempts. Playing some enterprising rugby in murky conditions, Castleford went ahead after only two minutes when a long pass from hooker Raper got centre Michael Eagar racing through a gap for their opening try. Castleford managed to break the Eagles defence with alarming ease, and when second-rower Dale Fritz set Francis Maloney on a dangerous run Richard Gay was in support to send Raper over for a second try. Neat inter-passing from Vowles and Lee Harland then created space for lively stand-off Orr to weave his magic, and Rogers raced on to his perfectly weighted kick to the corner to claim the try that brought up his milestone. Sheffield trailed 14-0 at half-time, and their cause was not helped when they lost Great Britain prop Dale Laughton through injury just 14 minutes into the game. It took Rogers less than a minute of the second half to extend Castleford's lead with the 101st try of his career, and once more it was down to some superb approach work and incisive finishing. Davis, the Australian who wants to play for England, will have impressed national coach John Kear, the Eagles boss, with the way he combined with Orr to get Lee Harland into space. Eagar took the move on, and Davis linked once more to send Rogers in at the corner. Sheffield then hung on until four minutes from the end when Tigers prop Dean Sampson forced his way over for his side's fifth try. Castleford maintained their challenge for a Super League play-off spot by crushing relegation threatened Hull. The Tigers ran in eight tries to wreck the Sharks' hopes of their first away win for three months. Stand-off Danny Orr led the romp with a try and six conversions. Hull were never in the game and were 28-4 down at half-time. The Tigers made a flying start when Brad Davis' kick set up a third minute touchdown for former Hull player Richard Gay. Three minutes later, full-back Jason Flowers finished a flowing move and Orr added the goal to put the Tigers 10-0 up. It wasn't long before Castleford went further ahead, Aaron Raper's long pass sending centre Francis Maloney striding over. Hull's fragile defence was split open again when Orr and Flowers linked to put Davis in after 25 minutes. The Tigers had the points in the bag when they made it 28-0 four minutes before half-time, Orr and Raper linking to put Gay in for his second. The Sharks finally opened their account shortly before the break when Johan Windley made the opening for Rob Roberts to grab their first score. But they were soon on the receiving end again in the second half when Davis sent winger Darren Rogers in for Castleford's sixth try. It was followed by one from substitute Paul Smith, which made it 40-4. Hull staged a mini revival with tries from Ian Pickavance and Jim Leatham, both goaled by Roberts, but Castleford had the last word when Orr went over two minutes from time. Coach Stuart Raper praised Castleford's backs after his side's eight try win at Wheldon Road. "Our outside backs rarely miss chances - give them an opportunity and they will take it. "We picked up another two points so I have got to be happy." Raper also paid tribute to his younger brother Aaron, the Tigers hooker, saying: "He is starting to play some of his best football." Hull coach Steve Crooks, meanwhile, lamented his side's poor ball control in a defeat which left them in relegation trouble. "We turned the ball over eight times in our own 30 metre area and you can't get away with that," he said. "The only positive is that it is a learning curve for our younger players and it will be valuable for them." By Ian Laybourn, PA Sport Castleford survived a tense thriller to claim a priceless win in their quest for a Super League play-off place. Wakefield gave their high-flying neighbours an almighty scare by twice coming from 12 points down and it took two late tries from substitute Brad Hepi and winger Darren Rogers to finally see off their brave challenge. In a gripping finale the Tigers were hanging on grimly before securing a victory that puts them two points clear of nearest rivals Gateshead Thunder in the battle for fifth spot. It had all looked so easy as Castleford with Adrian Vowles, Danny Orr and Aaron Raper in superb form, playing some attractive rugby to establish leads of 16-4 and 22-12. Two tries from inspirational skipper Vowles had enabled his side to overcome the shock of conceding a first-minute touchdown to Wakefield winger Neil Law, who profited from a break by full-back Shane Kenward. No more than two points separated the neighbours in earlier Super League clashes but three tries in 14 minutes midway through the first half looked to have put the home side out of sight. Loose forward Vowles got the opening two, bursting through the first line of defence 40 metres out and wrong-footing Kenward and then taking Danny Orr's neat pass to stumble over the line as he lost his footing on the lush turf. Orr added one of the conversions to an earlier penalty and right winger Richard Gay then crossed for a third try - his 18th of the season - after taking Raper's accurate long pass. As in the first half, Wakefield made the livelier start to the second period and pulled a try back when experienced scrum-half Glen Tomlinson took Willie Poching's pass close to the line and forced his way over despite the attentions of three defenders. Ian Talbot added the conversion to cut the deficit to 10 points but Castleford regained the initiative when Orr was awarded a penalty try after he was obstructed by Tomlinson as he chased a kick over the defence from half-back partner Brad Davis. However, the result was once more thrown into doubt when Law found a way through the heart of the Castleford defence to get substitute Paul March racing in for his side's third try and Talbot's goal again put one score between the sides. Stuart Raper's men were forced to endure a furious onslaught before Hepi burst through for the match-winning try on 77 minutes and then provided the final pass for Rogers to cross deep into injury time. |
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