Castleford Tigers 26 Wakefield Trinity 32: Smith offers timely reminder of his class to Wakefield

JUST a week after being jeered off the pitch by Wakefield fans, it was Tim Smith who eased all their fears with a wonderful piece of skill.

The Australian half-back has certainly not consistently been the creative force Trinity had hoped for since signing from Cronulla Sharks this season.

Yet when, in the 78th minute on Saturday, he elegantly dummied twice before effortlessly gliding through Castleford’s bemused defence, all was forgiven.

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It was Smith’s first try since his February debut, a timely reminder of his obvious class and it just about confirmed victory when Richard Agar must have been fearing another collapse.

The Trinity coach had urged more composure, steeliness and stamina from his side having matched Warrington for 50 minutes eight days ago only to spectacularly capitulate.

Smith admitted: “Rich has probably said all of that to me a fair bit, definitely over the last two weeks. My game has been down a little, too erratic and I’ve not had enough composure.

“We had a good chat though and it was good to get this win.

“It wasn’t outstanding but we managed two points which is really just what we need at this point of the season.”

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Indeed, as it saw them replace their fierce rivals in 11th place and keep alive faint hopes of making the eight.

Smith, whose accurate kick and cute pass had also set up tries for Steve Southern and Danny Washbrook in a wildly fluctuating first period, dovetailed well with Paul Sykes, the ex-England centre who switched to stand-off after Isaac John was dropped.

They both, worryingly, kicked out on the full in that first period – which ended 24-20 in their favour – but eventually settled to steer Wildcats home.

“I think Sykes’s left foot probably made the difference in the end,” offered Smith.

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“He made some big metres for us coming off that second half.”

Castleford’s mercurial Rangi Chase was back from a three-game ban but veered from the sublime to the ridiculous, mirroring his Tigers side.

They offered more substance than their record 70-12 Super League defeat at Hull KR but were still far too error prone.

Jordan Thompson, Stuart Jones, Nick Youngquest and Oliver Holmes scored first-half tries but Kirk Dixon could only improve twice.

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Sykes, though, was on the mark with all his four shots after Vince Mellars intercepted Chase’s pass to score from 80m and on-loan Tiger Richard Mathers also stepped over to add to Southern and Washbrook.

Smith’s kick wickedly bounced to elude Youngquest and see Peter Fox cross in the 53rd minute but Danny Orr got Castleford close with a converted solo try before Nathan Massey thought he had snatched it for Tigers. However, video referee James Child ruled it out for offside – he also rightly chalked off four Wildcats efforts – and Smith’s magic made sure.

Castleford coach Ian Millward praised his pack but was scathing of his erring outside backs.

“Sometimes you’d like to call ‘time out’ and put them all in the forwards and see what it’s like to play there,” he lamented.

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Castleford: Owen; Youngquest, Thompson, Dixon, Williams; Chase, Orr; Jackson, Jones, Huby, Ferres, Holmes, Mitchell. Substitutes: Walker, Milner, Millington, Massey.

Wakefield: Mathers; Fox, Collis, Mellars, Cockayne; Sykes, Smith; James, Amor, Aiton, Raleigh, Mariano, Kirmond, Washbrook. Substitutes: Wood, Southern, James, Lauitiiti.

Referee: R Hicks (Oldham).