Four-try Webster seals Castleford's first crown

Initially, Castleford Tigers discovered that last night as, for a decent spell of time, their fierce derby neighbours threatened to spoil the biggest party in their 91-year history.

Ultimately, however, for all their desire and endeavour, Wakefield Trinity did not get anywhere near managing to turn the music off.

Instead, Sweet Caroline rang around an ecstatic Wheldon Road once more as Castleford, for the first time since their inception in 1926, finally finished top of the pile. There were plenty of legendary former players there to witness the famous old stadium erupt as captain Michael Shenton lifted the League Leaders’ Shield at the end, proud Castlefordian Malcolm Reilly and Graham Steadman, from nearby Knottingley, to name just two.

However, it was a 33-year-old former Kiwi international, who hails from Melbourne and also did a stint at Hull KR, that clinched it for the Tigers.

When Jake Webster scored his second try in the 56th minute, Wakefield were on their knees at 28-16. His hat-trick came soon after and, by the time Webster had, remarkably, added a fourth 11 minutes from time, Trinity were vanquished.

This erstwhile West Yorkshire mining town, where the sport is so central, was already starting the celebrations that will still be going strong this morning.

Zak Hardaker added his second try of the night in front of a boisterous crowd of 11,235 rendering Max Jowitt’s score a mere consolation.

Daryl Powell’s side, who clinched top spot with four Super 8s games still to go, have also secured a first-ever place in the World Club Series next season along with a £100,000 cheque but it is a maiden league title they will now concentrate fully on, ensuring all this hard work is not undone.

A home semi-final awaits next month and they will, of course, be primed to reach Old Trafford.

Beforehand, Trinity had vowed to ruin things and, let’s not forget, they do have form for heaping misery on their neighbours.

In 2004, they came here and condemned Castleford to relegation from Super League. Two years later, they did the very same thing again in the original ‘Million Pound Game’ at Belle Vue.

Indeed, Castleford, for much of their long history, have been more used to fights at the other end of the table. Not any more, though.

They ran away with things in the second period and proved their obvious quality.

It was not all plain sailing. Greg Minikin had a troubled opening 40 minutes. Wakefield might have fancied targeting Greg Eden – who scored a crucial try in the second period – on his return from a shoulder injury but they directed plenty of kicks at Castleford’s other winger and it initially paid dividends.

Minkin dropped the first, which soon after led to Liam Finn opening the scoring with a third -minute penalty, and when he spilled next, Trinity were in again, this time via Ben Jones-Bishop’s 15th-minute try, although that was more down to Dean Hadley’s speedy play-the-ball and Reece Lyne’s rapid pass.

Finn could not convert so it was level 6-6 at that point, Hardaker having earlier shot into the line and slipping Mason Caton-Brown’s tackle for Luke Gale to improve.

Caton-Brown, surprisingly starting at centre rather than wing, was exposed on a couple of occasions. Hardaker, once more, got the better of him to get on the outside before finding a lovely inside pass for Webster who finished strongly.

Gale tagged on the goal for an 18-6 lead after 31 minutes, his side’s other try being a storming effort from Mike McMeeken, the hulking second-row who stretched out of two tackles to touch down. The England international largely had Paul McShane to thank for that effort; Webster had forced a pass when in space which only found David Fifita to seemingly ease pressure on the visitors.

However, always thinking, hooker McShane immediately wreathed possession from the giant Australian prop on his own 20m to regain position for the strike.

The scoreline flattered Castleford somewhat, though, and when Caton-Brown redeemed himself slightly by diving over from dummy-half three minutes before the break, 18-10 gave a fairer picture.

That said, Powell’s side will have been filthy with themselves; Shenton’s ball-steal on Lyne leading to that score was dubious but their line defence was embarrassed, too, by Caton-Brown.

That was the case at the start of the second period, too, after Webster spilled Roberts’ pass on halfway. This time, Trinity captain Danny Kirmond scored having found himself in acres of space, Tigers were alarmingly caught out by a simple inside ball from Finn who then made it 18-16.

But that was as good as it got for them as Powell’s side turned on the style.

Castleford Tigers: Hardaker; Minikin, Webster, Shenton, Eden; Roberts, Gale; Millington, McShane, Sene-Lefao, Holmes, McMeeken, Massey. Substitutes: Lynch, Milner, Moors, Foster.

Wakefield Trinity: Jowitt; Jones-Bishop, Lyne, Caton-Brown, Tupou; Miller, Finn; Fifita, Hadley, England, Ashurst, Kirmond, Arona. Substitutes: Williams, Huby, Annakin, Hirst.

Referee: James Child (Dewsbury).