Chase is on now as Castleford lead way at the top

Castleford Tigers regained top spot in the Engage Super League with a dazzling nine-try show to down Salford City Reds.

Kirk Dixon, switched from the wing to centre in place of suspended Willie Isa, piled up 20 points with a try and eight goals from nine kicks as the Tigers continued their impressive start to the season with their seventh win in eight games.

Winger Nick Youngquest and centre Joe Arundel each bagged two tries as the Tigers maintained their 100 per cent home record to round off a successful week after being given the go-ahead for their new stadium.

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Castleford coach Terry Matterson praised stand-off Rangi Chase after the talented New Zealander gave another eye-catching display.

“Rangi is playing as well as I’ve seen him play,” said Matterson.

“I like the way he is playing with a lot of control. We know he’s got his bag of tricks but he is also getting us round the field and he is not overplaying. He’s worked really hard on being a team player and I couldn’t ask for anything more. I thought his defence was a big improvement as well.”

Matterson added: “Kirk (Dixon) hasn’t played at centre for about four years. He has caught a bit of flak at different times over his goalkicking but he has worked hard on it and his kicking today was outstanding. It makes a big difference when you are getting six points all the time from tries.

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“We played some good rugby. I wasn’t too concerned when Salford led 10-6 in the first-half. I wanted to see how our guys reacted and they reacted in the right way and scored some wonderful tries.”

But Matterson is refusing to get carried away by Castleford’s great start to the season.

“I know what’s coming down the track and it’s going to really test us over the Easter period,” he said.

“But we haven’t been talking about that. We’ve just been talking about each game and we are focusing on Friday’s game against Harlequins. They are a tough team and will look to bounce back after losing at Wakefield.

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“We didn’t set any pre-season targets. We brought in so many players and I didn’t really know what to set.”

Salford, who have not beaten Castleford for five years, slipped to their second straight defeat after the Tigers took charge with three tries in a blistering six-minute spell shortly before half-time.

Castleford took a fourth-minute lead when Chase appeared to dislodge the ball from Salford skipper Daniel Holdsworth’s hands and Youngquest scooped up the loose ball just inside his own half and sprinted clear for a try that Dixon goaled.

The Reds, who struggled for possession in the early stages, had a let-off five minutes later when Tigers prop Craig Huby lost the ball over the try-line after making a powerful run.

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Salford survived further pressure before they rocked the Tigers with two tries in two minutes.

Slick crossfield passing saw Stefan Ratchford send in Jodie Broughton and Holdsworth added a touchline goal.

The Reds quickly scored again after Dixon kicked the ball out of play on the full from the re-start. Salford failed to find touch from the resulting penalty from halfway but Tigers winger Richard Owen’s efforts to keep the ball in play backfired when he palmed the ball into the path of the onrushing Broughton, who put in Vinnie Anderson.

Castleford regained the lead in the 27th minute when Dixon converted his own well-taken try after forcing his way over near the corner from Chase’s pass.

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Luke Patten rescued Salford with a magnificent try-saving tackle on Nick Fozzard before the Tigers took a firm grip with an 18-point scoring burst before half-time.

Chase made the opening for Richard Mathers to cross before Arundel pounced for a touchdown when Broughton fumbled Chase’s high kick.

Seconds before the half-time hooter, the Tigers spurned the chance of an easy penalty goal and the decision paid off when Chase’s superbly-judged kick to the corner saw Youngquest pluck the ball out of the air to grab his second try and his eighth of the season. Dixon’s fifth goal put the Tigers 30-10 up at the break.

Salford started the second half well when Holdsworth goaled his own 42nd-minute try after capitalising on sloppy Castleford defensive work.

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Five minutes later, Castleford regained a 20-point lead when Mathers sent substitute Dean Widders charging over and Dixon added a touchline conversion.

Salford’s problems increased when Stephen Wild was sin-binned in the 53rd minute for a late challenge on Danny Orr after the Tigers captain put in a kick.

Castleford made use of the extra man when Ryan Hudson’s off-load close to the try-line set up a score for teenager Daryl Clark. The Tigers shot further ahead when Chase hoisted another pinpoint kick to the corner to create a try for Owen.

Former Tigers prop Ryan Boyle was put on report for a challenge on Castleford’s Jake Emmitt before the Tigers completed the rout with Arundel’s second try five minutes from time.

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Salford had the final word with Adam Sidlow’s last-minute try.

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

Salford: Patten, Broughton, Nero, Ratchford, Henry, Smith, Holdsworth, Cashmere, Godwin, Boyle, L. Adamson, Anderson, Wild. Substitutes: Sneyd, Sidlow, Neal, Paleaaesina.

Referee: P Bentham (Warrington).