St Helens 22 Castleford Tigers 20: Miserable Easter for Tigers is compounded by Meli’s late winner

A LAST-GASP Francis Meli try and nerveless conversion from Jamie Foster earned St Helens a dramatic victory over Castleford.

The Tigers led by eight points against a patched-up Saints side that finished with two forwards at half-back – but late scores from Ade Gardner and Meli gave the hosts the spoils.

Castleford were desperately unlucky to come out of the Easter programme with no points – and coach Terry Matterson was disappointed with some of the officiating. Matterson said: “We were the best side – outstanding – and have had it taken away from us. We did not get one call all game. Every week you get refereed a different way, it is very frustrating.

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“We did not run out of gas, it was just that he kept putting petrol in their tank – that was the difference. Nobody expected us to come here and win today and we are doing all right after 12 rounds – but we are disappointed with what we have got from the last three games, particularly Easter.”

Saints hit the front when Tom Armstrong hit Sia Soliola’s pass to score with his first touch of the ball, Foster converting.

The Tigers levelled five minutes later through ex-Saint Stuart Jones, who rumbled over from close range, converted by Kirk Dixon. Dixon nudged the visitors ahead with a 32nd-minute penalty, but just before the break Armstrong sneaked over in the corner.

Within a minute of the restart Chase sold a dummy and strode through from 20 metres, Dixon goaling to nudge the visitors ahead. Castleford then began to enjoy territorial advantage and were rewarded when a fine handling movement was polished off by Jordan Thompson.

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Cas old boy Michael Shenton fashioned the chance for Gardner to go in at the corner and bang on the hooter, Meli crossed, with Foster converting from the touchline to hand Saints victory.

St Helens: Makinson, Gardner, Shenton, Meli, Foster, Wilkin, Lomax, Graham, Roby, McCarthy-Scarsbrook, Soliola, Ashurst, Puletua. Substitutes: Moore, Dixon, Magennis, Armstrong.

Castleford Tigers: Mathers, Dixon, Thompson, Arundel, Owen, Chase, Orr, Jackson, Milner, Huby, Jones, Holmes, Aspinwall. Substitutes: Hudson, Emmitt, Snitch, Ferres.

Referee: P Bentham (Warrington).