Wakefield Trinity 20 Castleford Tigers 46: Stubborn Tigers get their just rewardto floor Wildcats
Even the most optimistic Castleford fan must have feared the worst after when the injury-hit visitors, fielding a makeshift lineup, trailed 10-0 after 13 one-sided minutes.
But though they were missing a host of star names, Castleford were not lacking in desire or commitment and this 46-20 victory will rank as one of their most impressive of the season.
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Hide AdThree times the home team went ahead and on each occasion Castleford looked to be on the ropes, but came back swinging.
Crucially, their defence – the leakiest in the top-flight – was much-improved and they withstood heavy pressure on their own line, aided by some Wakefield mistakes.
Castleford finally went ahead with 22 minutes remaining and that signalled the start of a devastating spell which produced five tries and 30 unanswered points.
It was a remarkable turnaround by a team who were missing nine of their first 13 players and all their first six squad numbers.
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Hide AdFormer Man of Steel Rangi Chase missed out due to a back problem, Super League’s leading try scorer Denny Solomona was laid low by food poisoning and Luke Dorn also dropped out after suffering a calf injury in the previous game against Warrington Wolves.
Wakefield may have had an eye on Saturday’s Challenge Cup semi-final against Warrington, but the way they collapsed in the final quarter will be of huge concern to coach Chris Chester, whose side should have been able to go on from a winning position.
That said, Wakefield were also missing some front-line players and injuries during the game took a toll, the hosts finishing with only 14 fit players, which is another concern ahead of the Cup tie.
Castleford’s victory moved them above Wakefield into sixth place in the table, with the home team dropping to eighth.
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Hide AdA Castleford win seemed improbable for most of the game, but once they had a scent of victory they were unstoppable.
The key moment came with 18 minutes left when Wakefield’s Liam Finn failed to find touch with a penalty which should have given them an attacking opportunity near Castleford’s line.
Instead, Castleford received a penalty on the first tackle and scored through Junior Moors in the subsequent set to go eight points clear.
The final nine minutes was a rout as Greg Minikin, the exciting young back signed from York City Knights last winter, went over for his second try from Luke Gale’s kick, academy product Tom Holmes cut through for a well-taken touchdown and Ryan Hampshire backed up a break by Gale, who converted seven of Castleford’s eight tries.
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Hide AdEarlier Wakefield had looked like taking control, without ever being able to do so. After just four minutes Finn put up a high kick which Hampshire could not deal with and Jacob Miller was on hand to touch down.
Nine minutes later Finn combined with Miller to send Joe Arundel over from close range, but Minikin’s first try began Castleford’s fightback.
Switched from centre to the wing, Minikin showed his class – outstanding footwork and pace – to race almost the length of the field for a glorious solo try, after an error by Reece Lyne when Wakefield had looked set to increase their lead.
That came on 21 minutes and Castleford were level just three later.
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Hide AdOliver Holmes was switched from the second-row to partner Minikin on the right-flank and he reacted quickly to ground Gale’s kick behind the Wakefield line.
Wakefield stepped up a gear and were ahead again at the break through Arundel’s second try, the centre running a nice line on to Finn’s pass.
Castleford levelled for the second time soon after the interval when Andre Savelio, making his debut following a loan move from St Helens, crashed over from Paul McShane’s pass.
Savelio had a strong game and will be a quality addition for Castleford over the final third of the year.
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Hide AdYet again, Wakefield responded with a quick try, but could not apply the knockout punch that was required.
On 51 minutes Finn kicked to the corner and Lyne rose above the defence to catch and touch down. But seven minutes later, Savelio surged through the middle and, on the next play, McShane provided a quick pass to send Gale through a gap and Castleford were ahead and unwilling to give that position up.
Wakefield Wildcats: Jowitt, Lyne, B Tupou, Arundel, Hall, Miller, Finn, Scruton, Sio, Fifita, Walton, Ashurst, Molloy. Substitutes: Crowther, Arona, Moules, A Tupou.
Castleford Tigers: Hampshire, Flynn, Crooks, O Holmes, Minikin, McShane, Gale, Springer, Milner, Patrick, Mariano, Millington, Moors. Substitutes: Savelio, T Holmes, Cook, Maher.
Referee: J Cobb (Leigh).