Castleford Tigers 24 Wakefield Trinity 28: Wildcats roar back to dent local rivals’ top-spot hopes

With Huddersfield and St Helens losing earlier in the day, the Tigers failed to take advantage, despite Danny Orr’s try putting them 24-4 in front shortly after the break.

But to the astonishment of the 9,020 crowd, the lowly Wildcats refused to be deterred and scored 24 unanswered points to claim the Adam Watene Trophy.

Castleford knew they had to take advantage of earlier slip-ups and they made a barnstorming start with two converted tries in the opening 10 minutes.

First, quick interplay between Richard Owen and Richard Mathers allowed the latter to go over unchallenged on the left, with Dixon adding the first of four conversions. Then Martin Aspinwall somehow grounded the ball over the line, despite appearing to be held up by several Wakefield defenders. However, the visitors, looking to bounce back from their 52-6 thumping at St Helens last week, got on the scoreboard as Chris Dean rose highest to meet Tommy Lee’s high kick and the centre grounded the ball in one fluid motion.

Wakefield went on to make a mockery of their lowly league position and they held their own against their high-flying opponents. Former Castleford prop Liam Higgins thought he had narrowed the deficit further still but his effort was chalked off for obstruction. The Tigers’ defence held firm and they then showed their pedigree as Jordan Thompson crossed on half-time.

Wildcats coach John Kear highlighted Rangi Chase and Danny Orr as Castleford’s dangermen and the half-back pairing combined to put Joe Arundel clear – and his quick hands saw Thompson dive over on the right to give the hosts an 18-4 lead at the break.

Orr extended the lead two minutes after the interval when he took advantage of Blaymire fumbling the ball.

That seemed to end the game as a contest but Wakefield hit back to score four tries in 17 explosive minutes. First, stand-off Kieran Hyde exploited a gaping hole in the Castleford defence to go over, with Josh Griffin adding the first of his four conversions.

Griffin was the benefactor as Castleford once again showed their vulnerability to the high ball – the winger latching on to Hyde’s kick to touch down, while Paul Johnson then ensured it was game on after he went under the posts despite a last-ditch tackle from Thompson. The momentum was clearly with the visitors and Frankie Mariano crossed after collecting Lee’s ball over the top to complete a sensational comeback.

Castleford frantically scrambled for a score but it was to no avail.

Castleford Tigers: Mathers, Dixon, Thompson, Arundel, Owen, Chase, Orr, Fozzard, Hudson, Emmitt, Jones, Ferres, Aspinwall. Substitutes: Jackson, Huby, Widders, Clark.

Wakefield: Blaymire, G. Johnson, Dean, Murphy, Griffin, Hyde, Lee, Amor, Rinaldi, P. Johnson, Morrison, Mariano, Howarth. Substitutes: King, Henderson, Higgins, Wildie.

Referee: J Child (Dewsbury).