Castleford Tigers 20 Hull Kingston Rovers 24: Watts and Ainscough impress

Rovers were heading for a third successive defeat after an hour but cut the deficit to just two points with Ben Cockayne's 65th-minute try and 19-year-old Watts pounced for the winner seven minutes from the end, juggling with the ball before touching down.

"I'm really happy for Liam because we contemplated taking him off but we thought it would be great for his education to finish a game off under extreme pressure and he came up trumps," said coach Justin Morgan.

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Watts's try was awarded by video referee Steve Ganson, who had earlier disallowed one for Castleford's hat-trick hero Shaun Ainscough, and Tigers coach Terry Matterson was left to bemoan his side's misfortune.

"There were at least three controversial calls and we didn't get any of them," he said. "Ainscough should have been given a benefit-of-the-doubt try."

Castleford led 10-0 after nine minutes and were eight points in front when Ainscough, signed this week on a month's loan from Wigan, completed his hat-trick on 53 minutes.

"It was a real good debut," added Matterson. "He knows his way to the tryline. It's disappointing to score three tries and end up on the losing side.

"I am disappointed with some of the things we did. We got into a position to win the game. It was a carbon copy of the Warrington game. We didn't have enough patience.

"It was one that got away. I felt we dominated the game for long periods but it's about winning and we came up short.

"We've had a fair start to the season as far as performances go but we're one from four."

Morgan was pleased with the debut of Australian prop Joel Clinton and especially delighted with the way his side bounced back from their 30-0 home defeat to Huddersfield.

"I thought they showed a great deal of grit and determination," he said. "There are still a great deal of faults in our game but it's very difficult to coach character and grit.

"I have said before this is a special group of people and they showed tonight why I'm so proud of them.

"We changed things a bit and went with three front rowers to try and build a bit of momentum.

"There were enough glimpses from Joel to show why we've brought him to the club.

"We tried to play him in short stints because it was a heavy ground. In time he's going to get better."