My Favourite Match - Castleford Tigers Michael Shenton recalls key win over Leeds Rhinos

Tigers finished the season 10 points clear of second-placed Rhinos, losing only five of their 30 matches in Betfred Super League and the Super-8s.

They scored 965 points and conceded only 536 en-route to topping the elite league table for the first time in the club’s history.

That season was made of memorable moments for 
Castleford, but Shenton 
reckons the games where they had to dig deep are the ones which really stand out.

“The 2017 [play-offs] semi-final, when Galey [Luke Gale] kicked the drop goal in golden-point, is one that sticks in my mind,” he said.

“That was an absolute rollercoaster, thinking we’d got beaten, then coming back and 
Galey nailing that to win it to get to a Grand Final was one of one of the most incredible Super League moments, I am pretty sure. That was a special game for me.”

But for his favourite match, Shenton – who had a two-season spell at St Helens midway through his career – picked a meeting with Tigers’ old rivals, at a stage in the year when Castleford had not yet pulled clear of the pack.

He recalled: “I’ve always enjoyed it when we’ve played the Magic Weekend up at 
Newcastle, because it has usually been a derby game against Wakefield or Leeds.

“We have always played pretty well there and the carnival atmosphere has stuck with me.

“It’s a great atmosphere and there’s a great feeling about it.

“The Cas fans always travel up there in massive numbers and take over a stand so they are always special and for me, 2017 against Leeds is one that stands out.”

The May showdown was the sides’ first meeting since Tigers had thrashed Rhinos 66-10 at the Jungle in February.

Leeds, fourth in the table, were more competitive this time and it was 6-6, at the break, but Castleford pulled away in the second half to win 29-18.

Greg Eden was the star of the show for Castleford, running in a second-half hat-trick of tries on his way to a season’s total of 41, from just 31 games.

His second touchdown came from a stunning behind-the-back pass from Shenton.

Luke Gale scored a first-half try, four goals and drop goal against his future club and Tom Holmes also crossed.

Kallum Watkins was Leeds’ try scorer before the interval and Joel Moon and Liam Sutcliffe – who also kicked three goals – touched down in the final 15 minutes, after Tigers had gone 23 points ahead.

Particularly in an 18-minute spell after half-time, Castleford produced a dazzling exhibition of attacking rugby in a win which took them two points clear at the top of the table.

“It was a bit stuttery in the first half,” Shenton recalled.

“We had a half-time chat and pulled things together and had an outstanding second half. There was a real good feeling about us that year and that was a special one.”

The big stage, at St James’s Park, added to the sense of occasion for Shenton, who is now in his testimonial year.

“I’ve played that many games now, there’s lots of special one,” he said.

“Being part of the promotion-winning teams [in 2005 and 2007] was massively special.

“The timing, to get promoted in 2007 and then relegation went out of the window, hugely helped the club move forward.

“It has been able to get where it is now on the back of that, so there’s some big ones in there.

“There’s been Grand Finals and the Challenge Cup final as well, which were special, but we haven’t won one.

“Hopefully we can do that, if we get back playing.”