Super League Sunday: Derby wins for Castleford and Huddersfield
Castleford 19 Hull 16
Frankie Mariano scored a late try as Castleford made it five wins out of five with a thrilling 19-16 victory over Hull FC.
The match was in the balance right up until the final hooter but Mariano proved the match-winner as the Tigers won at the death for the second week running.
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Hide AdFetuli Talanoa gave Hull a dream start in front of a strong travelling contingent at the MAH Jungle but Castleford responded almost immediately through a brilliant Michael Shenton try.
Local lad Gareth Ellis punished a mistake by Jordan Tansey in his own in-goal to put the visitors back in control and give them a half-time lead.
Marc Sneyd brought Castleford level once more at the start of the second half after Daryl Clark had kept the ball alive but Hull were soon back in front through Liam Colbon’s try, only to be denied late on.
Bradford 18 Huddersfield 66
Huddersfield mercilessly exposed Bradford’s depleted resources with a Super League record 66-18 victory at the Provident Stadium in front of the Bulls’ prospective new owner Mandy Koukash.
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Hide AdMrs Koukash - who was accompanied by husband Marwan, the Salford owner, and their two young children - has pledged to provide money for new signings if she gets the chance to complete her purchase in the coming week and top of her shopping list will surely be some front-row forwards.
Bradford’s Super League domination in the late Nineties and early Noughties was based on the awesome foursome, a prop quartet that included current Huddersfield coaches Paul Anderson and Stuart Fielden.
The late withdrawal of Adam Sidlow through illness, allied to the unavailability of loan duo Greg Burke and Anthony Mullally, and the departure of Garreth Carvell and Nick Scruton, left the Bulls with just one specialist prop and it showed.
The Giants ran in 12 tries, with Scott Grix, Joe Wardle, Ukuma Ta’ai and Jermaine McGillvary all scoring two, and skipper Danny Brough kicked nine goals from 12 attempts.
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Hide AdBradford did the double over Huddersfield in their table-topping season last year but their hopes of a repeat were dashed by half-time when they trailed 32-6 despite having first use of the stiff breeze.