Two sides who had great Magic Weekends came together at the Mend-a-Hose Jungle as fifth placed Castleford Tigers took on the almost unstoppable league leaders, St Helens.
The sides were meeting for the third time this season with Saints recording comprehensive victories in a 46-6 home win in the opening round in February and a 36-18 win in the Ladbrokes Challenge Cup a fortnight ago.
A big enough win could lift the Tigers into third but the smart money was on Saints extending their lead at the top to four points, a nice cushion protecting them from the chasing pack.
With their first use of the ball Saints’ Kyle Amor burrowed under the Tigers defence to score under the sticks. Danny Richardson kicked the conversion and the Castleford side had a clear message that this was unlikely to be an easy night at the office.
The response from Castleford was immediate when on six minutes Mike McMeeken took advantage of a penalty when he took a short ball to go over. Despite appeareing to lose the ball in the act of scoring referee Kendall pointed to the spot. Jamie Ellis failed to add what appeared to be a simple conversion and the Tigers still trailed by two.
On thirteen Ben Barba scored a ninety-five metre solo effort after picking up a knock back from Adam Swift and motoring down the right wing to go over. Richardson added the conversion for 12-4.
On twenty-one the Tigers had a try down after it was lost on the line, the referee sent it to the video official as a try but was overruled. Four minuites later Jonny Lomax was able to keep hold of the ball as he found his way to the Tigers line, ducking out of a couple of ineffective tackles, to score. Richardson slid his goal through the uprights for 18-4.
On twenty-nine Dominic Peyroux had a walk in try as the Tigers defence opened up and allowed the Saints second rower the simplest of tries.Richardson missed the conversion but the visitors had raced to a 22-4 lead in the first half hour.
On thirty-three Greg Minikin appeared to fly in by the right corner flag but the referee again used the video official who determined that he’d put a foot in touch before scoring.
Saints finished the half on the attack but Luke Douglas lost the ball under the tackle within centimetres of the line and they couldn’t extend their lead.
Just three minutes into the second half and Saints were in again thanks to Ryan Morgan who was in support inside for a one-two with Swift. Richardson again failed to add the extras.
Ryan Morgan got his second on forty-nine after a Lomax break to the ten metre line before a delightful pass to his centre. The conversion was again missed, sparing the Tigers further pain.
Theo Fages got Saints seventh try of the night, a short range effort after palming away the attempted tackle. Richardson was having a nightmare with the boot, his fourth miss of the night frm seven attempts.
The Tigers finally got their second try of the night on sixty-two when Jy Hitchcox caught a Paul McShane chip to the corner after the ball had been taken off the Saints inside their own twenty. Jamie Ellis again failed to add the extras.
It was back-to-back tries for the Tigers on sixty-seven when Jake Trueman took a McShane pass to go through a massive gap in the Saints defence to score from ten metres out. Ellis was able to add the extras and reduced the margin to twenty points at 34-14.
On seventy-two Oliver Holmes got in on the action as he motored over from twenty metres to score the Tigers fourth try of the night. Ellis was unable to add the extras for 18-34.
But the last try of the night went to Saints, and again Theo Fages, created by Lomax. Richardson made it four from eight for 40-18.
Despite losing by twenty-two the Tigers were dominated by a Saints side who now go four points clear at the top of Super League. Coach Powell and his players will look at their third defeat to Saints this season and wonder whether a second consecutive Grand Final is a credible dream. Saints hit the front early and never looked back and are looking odds on for the Minor Premiership.
Tigers: Shenton, Minikin, Roberts, Foster, Hitchcox (T), Ellis (G), Trueman (T), Watts, McShane, Sene-Lefao, Holmes (T), McMeeken (T), Milner. Subs: Millington, Moors. Massey, Cook.
Saints: Barba (T), Swift, Morgan (2T), Percival, Grace, Lomax (T), Richardson (4G), Amor (T), Roby, Thompson, Peyroux (T), Taia, Wilkin. Subs: Fages (2T), Douglas, McCarthy-Scarsbrook, Knowles.
Referee: Chris Kendall.
Half-Time: 4-22.
Full-Time: 18-40.
Attendance: .
