Castleford Tigers 18 St Helens 52: Castleford fans call for action as Saints pull away

It was a half-hearted protest and one which would probably never have materialised if their injury-ravaged side had continued the good work of an encouraging first-half display.

They had battled back from 10-0 down to level courtesy of well-taken tries from Craig Huby and Ryan Clayton and, with Joe Westerman and Rangi Chase in effervescent mood, a victory seemed well within their grasp.

However, Maurie Fa'asavalu plundered over just before the break and then St Helens – with the searing pace of an outstanding Leon Pryce and James Roby – ripped the Tigers apart in a second-half storm.

The West Yorkshire club, who lost to derby rivals Wakefield on Good Friday, have just three wins from 10 games and coach Terry Matterson could understand the supporters' dissent.

"They're entitled to their say and opinion but we're struggling at the moment," he said.

"I don't think it's a secret. We've had quite a few players out injured and it just got a bit difficult for us today playing against a very good side.

"We competed well in the first half but this programme is not ideal for a team that has a squad as small as us.

"Things are tough but we've just got to ride it through. It's not ideal we have to back up again on Friday but we've just got to dig in."

Castleford play their third game in a week when they head to Huddersfield on Friday – the only two clubs to do so after the relentless Easter schedule – and will be struggling.

England centre Michael Shenton dislocated a finger yesterday but went back out onto the field while Kirk Dixon and Steve Snitch were both missing as casualties from the loss at Belle Vue.

Castleford went into the game without seven first-teamers and fans must have feared the worst when Saints went 10-0 up inside 12 minutes.

Keiron Cunningham's flat pass saw Tony Puletua steam through and he produced an audacious ball for the supporting Kyle Eastmond who simply had too much speed for flat-footed full-back Ryan McGoldrick.

Westerman kicked the re-start dead to invite Saints in again and they duly capitalised, Chris Ashurst's pass carving out the chance for Francis Meli.

But, just as Saints had done, Castleford scored twice in three minutes to restore order.

First Huby benefitted, the burly prop finishing off after McGoldrick's neat pass had put Brent Sherwin into space in front of the posts.

Westerman converted and it was the young loose forward's burst and off-load from the re-start that set in play the motion for their second for Clayton on 24 minutes.

Fa'asavalu made his response though and another quickfire double from St Helens early in the second period took the game away from the Tigers.

Pryce – again playing at full-back – twice injected the necessary pace into a movement before off-loading for Roby who finished with ease from 15 metres out.

The England pair were at it again from the re-start, tearing Castleford to pieces up the middle with a couple of quick play-the-balls which eventually gave Meli a simple walk-in.

Castleford responded on 51 minutes with a try for Westerman but he missed the easy kick and, with the game still in the balance at 14-28, Castleford went on to further waste decent possession, Clayton twice erring with Saints in trouble.

Matterson said: "The difference was Saints took their opportunities.

"We we had a mountain of them – six, seven or eight try-scoring opportunities – but just couldn't grasp any. We struggled to finish the last play."

The slick visitors were not as compassionate, Eastmond darting between Mike Cooper and Westerman to scramble over from short distance and then Cunningham slipping Puletua in before Pryce dummied over himself.

Nick Fozzard was put on report for leading with his knees as he charged into Westerman's tackle but, typically, Castleford did not strike.

The otherwise excellent Kirk Netherton – one Tiger returning from injury – was the latest to see a pass fall off target and Saints motored back up field for Roby to get his second.

Eastmond booted his eighth goal, Castleford centre Michael Shenton's try just before the final hooter doing little to assuage fans' growing unrest.

Meanwhile, Castleford are investigating after Crusaders' Gareth Thomas complained of homophobic abuse from fans during the game at The Jungle 10 days earlier.

Castleford: McGoldrick; Ainscough, Clayton, Shenton, Wainwright; Chase, Sherwin; Sargent, Hudson, Jackson, Jones, Tuson, Westerman. Substitutes: Huby, Higgins, Netherton, Cooper.

St Helens: Pryce; Gardner, Gidley, Dean, Meli; Wilkin, Eastmond; Graham, Cunningham, Fozzard, Ashurst, Flannery, Puletua. Substitutes: Robry, Hargreaves, Moore, Fa'asavalu.

Referee: P Bentham (Warrington).