Catlans Dragons 44 Castleford 26: Powell left to rue poor start as Tigers slump at Dragons

Tony Gigot, who scored a hat-trick of tries, and Todd Carney inspired the Dragons as they claimed a resounding home victory, despite losing Ben Pomeroy to his second red card of the month.

Pomeroy saw red for a dangerous throw on Ashley Gibson.

Castleford shipped 11 penalties and Powell accepted his visitors were their own worst enemies.

Powell said of the Tigers display: “We had such a poor start and had too many people off (their game). Catalans were excellent and fully deserved to be 20-0 in front before we even looked like scoring.

“Performance-wise we were really off. Catalans played some good rugby from the start and really put us on the back foot from the start.

“If you don’t get a good start here then it is always tough. I still thought we could win at half-time. It was obviously tough for both sides today with them having a man sent off and us losing players through injuries.”

The Dragons raced into an early lead as Gigot raced onto Morgan Escare’s short ball to step his way to the line before Zeb Taia charged over the top of Liam Finn to extend the hosts’ lead. Krisnan Inu missed both conversions.

It got worse for the Tigers, Jeff Lima and Carney both touching down before Pomeroy’s indiscretion on 28 minutes.

Castleford marked their first try of the game, Justin Carney collecting Luke Gale’s kick, who added the conversion to take the score to 20-6. but Escare raced over from 80 metres out to settle the Catalans nerves.

Castleford’s Oliver Holmes raced in at the corner before Catalans scored the try of the game, an inch-perfect 30-metre pass from Carney sending Gigot in for his second try.

A neat Gale kick to the left corner saw Adam Milner race in at the corner to keep Castleford in the game however, Gigot’s hat-trick try on 62 minutes secured the points for the home side.

Junior Moors powered his way over from Gale’s pass, before Escare’s second try of the game.

Castleford’s Milner scoring his second in the left corner with three minutes remaining.

Catalans Dragons: Escare, Inu, Gigot, Pomeroy, Sigismeau, Carney, Bosc, Elima, Pelissier, Lima, Taia, Whitehead, Baitieri. Substitutes: Henderson, Anderson, Garcia, Bousquet.

Castleford: Roberts, Gibson, Channing, Shenton, Carney, Finn, Gale, Lynch, Milner, Millington, O. Holmes, McMeeken, Massey. Substitutes: Cook, Moors, Springer, McShane.

Referee: B Thaler (RFL).