Castleford Tigers 34 Catalan Dragons 24: Poor start overcome by Tigers’ impressive youngsters

IT IS a sign of the growing development and maturity of this bold Castleford Tigers side that an early 10-point deficit barely caused a ripple in their ranks.

Anyone seeing a strong, disciplined Catalan team storm into them in the opening quarter, where the stuttering hosts fell off tackles far too easily, would wonder which side was the one boasting the only 100 per cent record in Super League and which was searching for only a second win.

Tries from Scott Dureau and Damien Blanch inside nine minutes got the French club, augmented by the return of the stylish Clint Greenshields, off to a perfect start and they seemed ready to give these young upstarts who dare to dream a painful lesson.

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In years of old, meek Castleford may well have rolled over and ended on a significant hiding.

However, in 2011, there is refreshingly only abundant positivity emanating from the PROBIZ Coliseum.

Terry Matterson’s confident side simply shrugged off their slumber, realised the game had started and swiftly proved why they are the surprise early joint-leaders of Super League.

The introduction of seasoned prop Nick Fozzard, old enough to be the father of so many of the Tigers’ current tyros, brought some impetus and old-fashioned ruggedness to their play.

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He has had to bide his time since moving from Hull KR given the form of Jacob Emmitt and Jonathan Walker but with the latter missing due to injury he finally made his debut and set up position for Rangi Chase to deliver his first piece of magic.

The Kiwi stand-off put in motion a cleverly-disguised pass that fooled Catalan but not Craig Huby who powered over on 16 minutes, Kirk Dixon adding the first of his five goals.

After Richie Mathers brilliantly emerged from behind his own line, Castleford completed a rapid set out of dummy-half which was beautiful in its simplicity and must have alarmed Catalan about what lay ahead for them; the ease with which the home side emerged from the ruck as they tore down the centre of the field was a masterclass in how best to escape your own half and it lifted the whole stadium.

Furthermore, that was before Matterson had even introduced Daryl Clark, the effervescent 18-year-old hooker who, in only his third senior appearance, gave another hugely admirable display with his penetrating bursts.

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Many at Castleford will sagely not want to hype him up too much too soon but the fact remains for a player of such tender years to take control so confidently in such a key position as hooker is frightening.

You could see the sense of trepidation, fear almost, in the Catalan defenders’ eyes every time he took possession and threatened to zip away with remarkable footwork while, as the visitors tried to stage a comeback in the second period, his defence was equally as impressive including one outstanding try-saving tackle on the evergreen Steve Menzies.

Tigers captain Danny Orr proved a fine controller once more, dictating the tempo but also producing a series of crucial tackles himself to thwart the frustrated visitors.

After Dureau had kicked out on the full, Catalan self-imploding, it was Orr’s swift pass that put Stuart Jones surging through a gaping hole for Dixon to put them in front in the 24th minute.

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Greenshields could possibly have been yellow-carded for lifting the leg of Huby after the powerful prop had barrelled his way through and was attempting another quick play-the-ball.

Catalan escaped punishment and Dean Widders was also just denied after another clever pass from the inventive Chase but Catalan squandered a perfect opportunity to respond when Blanch was put clear but he could not hold the pass.

They did hit back with eight points just before the break when Chase’s kick was charged down to put them on the march, Menzies’s loose offload was picked up by Dureau who saw the Tigers defence spread in the confusion. He converted and when Dixon sailed the restart dead Castleford conceded another two points after Mathers was cheaply penalised for interference to leave Castleford trailing 18-12 at the break.

Such positions currently cause little problem for Matterson’s men though who overcame a half-time deficit to defeat Hull KR a week earlier.

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They took control in the 50th minute, applying plenty of pressure before Dixon finally crossed in the corner following Mathers’ splendid long pass.

They were let off when Menzies fumbled with the line begging and the former Australian Test star – now aged 37 – was made to pay when Chase extended Castleford’s lead with a quality individual effort.

Clark had done the damage with another darting raid up the middle before Chase dummied and sliced his way over, Dixon improving once more,

Catalan did their utmost to rally and spent an eternity in their opponents’ 20 but had no answer to the excellent defence which continually scrambled to deny their best opportunities.

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Nick Youngquest defused Dureau’s high kick to brilliantly race almost 100 metres to score an outstanding try, the winger’s fifth in just four games, and, after more pressure forced another Dragons error, Joe Arundel then raced 80 metres to leave Castleford fans ecstatic.

The visitors finally managed to break them in the 75th minute through Cyril Stacul but it was a mere consolation.

Castleford Tigers: Mathers; Dixon, Arundel, Ferres, Youngquest; Chase, Orr; Jackson, Milner, Huby, Holmes, Emmitt, Jones. Substitutes: Fozzard, Aspinwall, Widders, Clark.

Catalan Dragons: Greenshields; Blanch, Farrar, Millard, Stacul; Sa, Dureau; Fakir, Henderson, Paea, Menzies, Raguin, Baitieri. Substitutes: Ferriol, Casty, Mounis, Gigot.Referee: P Bentham (Warrington).