Leeds Rhinos 10 Castleford Tigers 24: Castleford battle back to defeat champions Leeds

Joe Westerman, Brent Sherwin and Dean Widders all touched down as the Tigers recovered from a 10-6 interval deficit on a misty night at Headingley Carnegie.

Leeds shaded the first half of a hard-fought encounter with new signing Brett Delaney restoring an advantage after James Evans cancelled out Danny McGuire's opener.

But it was a different story after the break as the Tigers dominated possession and claimed a deserved win.

After the snow in Wrexham, the Rhinos had fog to contend with and the game was initially as tight as their Welsh experience.

The Rhinos gradually began to assert their authority but met with determined Castleford defence.

Leeds eventually made their pressure tell as Kevin Sinfield chipped over the defence and McGuire just beat Rangi Chase to score before the ball ran dead.

Sinfield converted and then almost claimed a try himself following a barnstorming run by Jamie Jones-Buchanan.

Jones-Buchanan was eventually stopped by four men but Leeds spread play right and Sinfield was inches short when he lost possession in a tackle.

Castleford replied against the run of play six minutes before the interval as Evans raced through to dive on Sherwin's kick.

Craig Huby's goal levelled matters but Leeds forced their way back ahead after 38 minutes as Sinfield put former Gold Coast centre Delaney over for his second try in Rhinos colours.

That gave Leeds a four-point advantage but Tigers made a determined start after the break.

Leeds again had the first opening through Rob Burrow and the half-back felt he was impeded by Evans and Michael Shenton as he chased his own kick.

But Castleford stepped up the pressure and Steve Snitch powered over the Leeds line only to be held up by three defenders.

The Tigers broke through again after 52 minutes as Sherwin sent Westerman away with a clever reverse pass and Matt Diskin could not deny the the loose forward by the posts. Westerman's conversion gave the visitors the lead for the first time.

Sherwin claimed a third try five minutes later as Chase kicked through and Westerman again added the extras to put Castleford 18-10 in front.

Leeds tried to respond but Evans produced a fine tackle to thwart veteran centre Keith Senior.

Castleford were not to be denied and secured a win their efforts deserved when another kick by Chase was seized upon by Widders.

Leeds Rhinos: Webb, Donald, Delaney, Senior, Hall, McGuire, Burrow, Bailey, Buderus, Peacock, Jones-Buchanan, Ablett, Sinfield. Substitutes: Diskin, Eastwood, Lauitiiti, Burgess.

Castleford Tigers: McGoldrick, Owen, Shenton, Evans, Wainwright, Chase, Sherwin, Jackson, Hudson, Higgins, Ferres, Snitch, Westerman. Substitutes: Jones, Sargent, Widders, Huby.

Referee: I Smith (Oldham).