Castleford Tigers 28 Hull FC 42: Tickle hits Tigers’ hopes of ending losing run

Peter Gentle’s side completed the high-profile signing of England forward Gareth Ellis on Wednesday and had too much for a Tigers side that have yet to win since their victory at Salford in round one.

The lead exchanged hands on several occasions in a frantic first half, but Hull took control after the interval and eventually ran out comfortable winners.

“I think we had to make an attitude adjustment at half-time to really lift our defensive performance,” said Hull’s Australian coach Gentle.

“We got a couple of cheap tries and I think they thought they were in for an easy afternoon, and to Castleford’s credit they kept coming all day.

“The scoreline at times during the game wasn’t a true indication of what was going on out there. It was a real tough battle.”

Asked if he felt his side were building momentum through their recent run of good form, Gentle replied: “We are, but I’m still looking for that 80-minute performance, as I suppose every coach is.

“Obviously (giving away) 28 points is too many and I wouldn’t want to be conceding that against the top sides.

“Castleford have done a fair bit of work and it is always going to be tough here, but 28 points is definitely too much. In the first half, defensively, I was disappointed, but in the second half we started working a little bit harder for each other and it was a lot better.”

Danny Tickle scored one of his side’s seven tries and finished with 18 points following a flawless kicking display, while Rangi Chase laid on four scores in a losing cause for Castleford.

The Tigers were able to welcome back influential duo Danny Orr and Josh Griffin, who each missed last weekend’s defeat to Huddersfield Giants through injury.

However, it was Hull who claimed an early lead with Tongan forward Sam Moa burrowing under the posts from close range after a succession of penalties had given his team excellent field position.

The hosts responded well and were soon in front.

An excellent break from Chase ended with last year’s Man of Steel looping a pass out to the left for Nick Youngquest to go over in the corner.

Tickle then put the restart out of play and Castleford duly crossed again through Jonathan Walker. Kirk Dixon, who had missed with his first kick, added the goal to make it 10-6.

Hull hit back with Willie Manu left with a simple finish after Jordan Turner had burst clear down the wing, only to be stopped inches short of the line.

The impressive Chase provided a second assist, this time for Grant Millington, as Castleford reclaimed the lead before seeing another score disallowed for offside.

Hull then surged in front again through Turner, who provided a further demonstration of his pace by gliding past Josh Griffin.

Tickle maintained his 100 per cent record with the boot and added a further two points on the stroke of half-time after Chase had been penalised for squaring up to Rich Whiting in an off-the-ball incident.

There was further controversy prior to Tickle’s penalty as Tigers full-back Richard Owen was involved in an angry exchange with the Hull supporters behind the goal.

Tom Briscoe looked to have added a fourth try for the Black and Whites at the start of the second half following more good work from Turner, but the winger was adjudged to have stepped into touch.

A porous Castleford defence was breached again, however, by Tickle, who picked up a knock in the act of scoring, leaving Whiting to miss a tricky touchline conversion. Another rash of penalties followed as Hull piled on the pressure, culminating in Brett Seymour crossing on the short side. Tickle was able to resume kicking duties and made no mistake.

The Tigers reduced their arrears when Chase found Griffin all alone on the right for a simple score, which Dixon converted.

However, it was Hull who finished much the stronger, with Briscoe representing a particularly potent threat.

The 22-year-old added his name to the scoresheet after a neat offload from Manu, who then grabbed his second try following another fine break from Briscoe.

Brett Ferres went over at the death for Castleford, Chase offering a fourth assist, but it represented little consolation for Ian Millward’s men.

“I thought at times there wasn’t a lot between the two teams,” said Millward.

“Our effort’s good and our energy’s good, but some of the errors we come up with hurt us.

“They are just little things, but it takes the pressure off the opposition or creates pressure back on us.”

Castleford Tigers: Owen, Youngquest, Grehan, Dixon, Griffin, Chase, Orr, Massey, Hudson, Walker, Ferres, Holmes, Emmitt. Substitutes: Snitch, Jones, Millington, McGoldrick.

Hull FC: McKinnon, Sharp, Martin, Turner, T. Briscoe, Horne, Seymour, Moa, Houghton, Lynch, Manu, Tickle, Aspinwall. Substitutes: Bowden, Ellis, Whiting, O’Carroll.

Referee: M Thomason (RFL).