Castleford Tigers 12 London Broncos 26: Gower undermines Castleford to lift London

London Broncos repeated last season’s victory at Castleford 
Tigers by scoring three tries in eight minutes at the start of the second half to overturn a 12-6 interval deficit.
Ian MillwardIan Millward
Ian Millward

The result lifted them off the foot of the table above the Tigers, who are now without a win in their last five matches.

Castleford coach Ian Millward felt Australian scrum-half Craig Gower was the main difference between the teams. “If Craig Gower had played for us we would have won the game,” he said.

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“I thought he was the best player by a mile. He controlled the game and was outstanding.

“We did a really good job on Gower and Michael Witt in the first half, but in the second half they absolutely dictated to us.”

Millward was left to rue a disappointing second-half showing that saw his side slip to second-bottom in the table.

“We were the best team in the first half and really good value for a 12-6 half-time lead. We conceded only one try and that was from a dropped ball, but London were the better side in the second period,” he added.

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“We looked a bit of a rabble in the second half and we lost all our shape defensively.

“The really good things we did in the first half, they weren’t as consistent in the second half. We just didn’t have the same continuity.

“The second half was no reflection on what we’ve been doing during the year or what we can do. I thought the second half was really poor. I think it was mentally not being tough enough.”

Chris Bailey scored two tries, Michael Witt kicked five goals and Gower was also a key contributor as the Broncos bagged a second successive away win following their 38-4 success at Salford earlier this month.

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London coach Tony Rea commented: “We are a very happy team. The players are happy because they know the effort they put in.

“They played as a team in a difficult game and found the effort required. It was fantastic. Our commitment to the basics and our workrate was excellent.

“Tommy Lee had 80 minutes in really wet conditions and contested and competed on every play. I thought he was terrific.”

Castleford Tigers: Tansey, Owen, Shenton, Webster, Dixon, Chase, Ellis, Emmitt, Clark, Huby, Gilmour, Millington, Holmes. Substitutes: Walker, Massey, Thompson, Fleming.

London Broncos: Robertson, Colbon, Channing, Sarginson, Dixon, Witt, Gower, Cook, Lee, Bryant, Rodney, Bailey, Kaufusi. Substitutes: Clubb, Lovell, Dorn, Randall.

Referee: Tim Roby (RFL).