Castleford Tigers 40 Wakefield Wildcats 16: Castleford take huge step in battle for play-offs

Trinity had led 10-6 at the break, but were blown away in a second-half six-try romp led by Australian forward Dean Widders, who crossed for two tries himself.

The other home tries came from winger Kirk Dixon (2), Michael Wainwright, Ryan McGoldrick and Ryan Hudson, Joe Westerman kicking 12 points. Trinity replied with tries from Glen Morrison (2) and Matt Blaymire, plus two Paul Cooke conversions.

Captain Hudson said: "It was a massive result for the lads and another two points as we chase the play-offs."

That the Tigers moved clear in eighth place was down to a determined second-half as Hudson's team punished a tiring Trinity defence. It was in stark contrast to a first 40 minutes which was a fiercely contested affair with neither side able to pull away.

Castleford kicked off but Wakefield's Richard Moore spilled the ball on his own line. His error could have proved costly and the visitors were probably relieved to escape with just a Westerman penalty against them on the scoreboard.

The derby crowd needed little invitation to raise the decibels but winger Wainwight's lung-bursting run down the left looked dangerous until Sean Gleeson stepped in with a superb tackle.

And Trinity were on the scoresheet moments later when former Bradford player Morrison coasted over, after Widders had spilled the ball in the tackle.

Paul Cooke kicked the conversion.

The Wheldon Road crowd were being treated to a feast of attacking rugby, mistakes from both sides adding to the drama. But there was nothing but class about Castleford's opening try.

The ball was moved quickly along the line, missing out the final centre, before reaching Dixon who dived over in the corner to level the scores at 6-6. Westerman failed with the touchline conversion.

Hudson was instrumental in most of his side's good work, from one fierce drive, the ball came out to Rangi Chase but his kick on the fifth tackle was gratefully picked up by the Trinity defence.

Last time out Wakefield grinded out a workmanlike win over Hull FC, as Tigers lost at high-flying Warrington, but there was nothing tedious with this game.

Dixon was next to cross the line in front of the packed ranks of Wakefield fans, but he was ruled to have gone into touch.

Gleeson was sin-binned for dissent and Tigers piled on the pressure as they looked to make their numerical advantage pay before the break.

Instead Wakefield broke away and forced a penalty upfield, Blaymire stretching out over the line for a try, which Cooke was unable to convert.

It took a superb interception from Mitchell Sargent to prevent Wakefield from extending their advantage as Cooke pressed the line, while at the other end Brett Ferres failed to reach Dixon's jabbed kick.

Ben Jeffries held up his hand as his attempted drop goal rolled along the floor as Wakefield went into half-time leading this derby thriller 10-6.

Castleford were first to show in the second half and it came from a beautiful dummy from 30-year-old Widders. He fooled the Trinity defence with quick feet and slipped in Dixon for his second try of the afternoon.

Westerman converted from in front of the posts to edge the hosts ahead 12-10.

On his day Westerman is one of the most exciting players in Super League, his strength allied to a creative streak, and he was causing Wakefield numerous problems with his jinking runs.

Tigers' No 13 was also on target with the conversion of Wainwright's try, the winger squeezing home after quick handling in the centres from Ferres.

But just as the home fans sensed they were pulling away from their neighbours, Trinity struck back as Morrison crashed over and Cooke converted.

As news of Bradford's defeat to Salford was relayed over the tannoy, both sets of fans realised they were now in a two-horse race for eighth spot.

And it was Tigers who upped their game, Chase finally finding his man with another deft kick- through, former Parramatta Eels forward Widders diving on the ball before quickly following up with a surging run through a tiring Wakefield defence.

Westerman converted both tries to give Castleford a 30-16 lead, before departing to a standing ovation from the home faithful.

McGoldrick and Shenton combined perfectly to send the former in for Castleford's sixth try, Dixon converting to the delight of most of the 8,517 crowd.

Castleford's second-half display had blown Wakefield away and Hudson broke away late on to rub salt into the wounds, even taking out time to salute the fans before touching down.

Castleford Tigers: McGoldrick, Dixon, Shenton, Ferres, Wainwright, Widders, Chase, Huby, Hudson, Jackson, Snitch, Clayton, Westerman. Substitutes: Sargent, Higgins, Jones, Thompson.

Wakefield Trinity Wildcats: Blaymire, Gleeson, Murphy, Millard, Blanch, Cooke, Jeffries, Leaeno, Rinaldi, Moore, Demetriou, Johnson, Morrison. Substitutes: Korkidas, Henderson, King, Leo-Latu.

Referee: J Child (Dewsbury).