Castleford Tigers 26 St Helens 46: Chase leads Tigers’ fight but Saints pull away for victory

Veteran full-back Paul Wellens grabbed two tries as they nosed one point ahead of Huddersfield with a fourth successive league victory.

It looked all too easy when they shot into an early 18-0 lead, but the battling Tigers roared back to reduce the deficit to two points before Saints put the game beyond their reach in the second-half.

They had the help of ace marksman Jamie Foster who converted all but one of the eight tries as they beat Castleford – who were missing Danny Orr, Paul Jackson, Stuart Jones and Richard Mathers – for the seventh time in a row.

Samoan centre Willie Isa returned after being out for two months with an ankle injury and Martin Aspinwall made his first appearance since his release from prison after serving a sentence for dangerous driving.

Castleford wasted an excellent early attacking position when Dean Widders fumbled Rangi Chase’s pass 10 metres from the try line.

Saints then took command with three quick tries from James Graham, Michael Shenton and Louis McCarthy-Scarsbrook, with Chase being sin-binned for holding down Jonny Lomax.

Chase started a remarkable Castleford fightback when he scored with his first touch on his return to the field, his high kick set up a try for Kirk Dixon, then sent in Nick Youngquest near the corner and Dixon kicked his second goal.

Saints were now under the cosh and only desperate defence prevented Castleford’s Richard Owen scoring before they increased their lead on the stroke of half-time with a Wellens try.

Excellent work by Chris Flannery and Shenton saw Wellens grab his second before Tony Puletua plunged over.

Saints sealed victory when Jon Wilkin’s high kick saw Lee Gaskell pounce for a touchdown and Kyle Eastmond darted over at the corner after slick handling.

Castleford’s Owen and Widders scored late tries but the damage had already been done.

Castleford: McGoldrick, Dixon, Youngquest, Arundel, Owen, Widders, Chase, Massey, Milner, B Davies, Ferres, Holmes, Thompson. Substitutes: Hudson, Isa, Aspinwall, J Davies.

St Helens: Wellens, Makinson, Shenton, Eastmond, Foster, Pryce, Lomax, Graham, Roby, McCarthy-Scarsbrook, Flannery, Wilkin, Puletua. Substitutes: Moore, Magennis, Dixon, Gaskell.

Referee: R Hicks (Oldham).