Fifth placed Castleford Tigers had a round thirteen encounter with seventh Wakefield Trinity in the West Yorkshire derby at the Mend-a-Hose Jungle. The two sides are separated geographically by just eight miles, but by four points in the league ladder.
After a great start to the season Wakefield have suffered a recent decline with just one win their last seven outings while Castleford are still seeking their 2017 consistency despite some good wins.
After suffering a hammering at the hands of Salford Red Devils last week Trinity coach Chris Chester made a number of changes with Max Jowitt, Tom Johnstone, Ryan Hampshire, Anthony England, Kyle Wood, Pauli Pauli and Chris Annakin all in the starting thirteen. For the Tigers Daryl Powell made four changes and welcomed back Jamie Ellis and Jesse Sene-Lefao.
Two quick penalties, the second right in front of the sticks, gifted the Tigers a 2-0 start when Luke Gale slotted the goal between the uprights. On twelve minutes Gale added a second penalty goal after another penalty conceeded by Trinity.
On fourteen Chris Annakin was helped from the field after injuring his right leg under the tackle.
Castleford were doing it in two and Gale kicked a third penalty from thirty metres on nineteen minutes after another interference at the play the ball.
The first try of the game went the way of the Tigers when Jamie Ellis went over in the right corner after taking a miss-out pass. Ellis attempted the conversion as Gale received treatment but failed to find the target.
It was Wakefields turn to benefit from consecutive penalties on thirty-five when Tyler Randell scooted from acting half-back through a massive gap in a dumbfounded Tigers defence. Ryan Hampshire hit the post with a simple looking conversion.
Both sides exchanged ‘NO TRY’ decisions, after the video referee overturned the on field referee, in the opening ten minutes.
Adam Milner extended the Tigers lead on fifty-four, burrowing over the line from acting half-back to score under the sticks. Ellis added the extras for 16-4.
A foul on Sene-Lafeo earned the Tigers yet another penalty on seventy-two and Ellis kicked the to to put the game beyond Trinity and seal the win.
On seventy-five Paul McShane ran fifty metres down the wing after a Ben Jones-Bishop mistake gifted posession to the Tigers. Ellis added the extras for a 24-4 win for the home side.
It was a decent effort from Trinity but they were clear second best on the night against a Castleford side who did enough to secure win which never really looked in any doubt. The Tigers will have some concern over an injury to Luke Gale which saw him leave the field before half time and not return. The Tigers are into the top four while Wakefield will be hoping that their recent slump ends soon to save them from the middle eights.
Tigers: Trueman, Minikin, Webster, Wardle, Shenton, Ellis (T, 3G), Gale (3G), Watts, McShane (T), Sene-Lafeo, Holmes, McMeeken, Milner (T). Subs: Millington, Moors, Springer, Cook.
Trinity: Jowitt, Jones-Bishop, Lyne. Tupou, Johnstone, Miller, Hampshire, England, Wood, Hirst, Ashurst, Pauli, Annakin. Subs: Randell (T), Arona, Huby, Batchelor.
Referee: Robert Hicks.
Half-Time: 10-4.
Full-Time: 24-4.
Attendance: .
