Tigers go down to late loss

The first game at the Mend-A-Hose Jungle for 200 days ended up being decided by a thrilling finish as Michael Shenton’s late try for the Tigers looked to have given them the points, only for Jake Connor to spoil the party on the following set.

In the end, Cas were left wondering how they’d lost the contest having dominated the first half on their own pitch, albeit with no fans in attendance. However, despite their superiority in the opening 40 minutes, it was the visitors who opened the scoring in the fifth minute as winger Cameron Scott finished in the corner after a high kick was tapped back and the ball worked out wide, but the Tigers hit back almost immediately when Gareth O’Brien – operating alongside Grant Millington in the halves – dummied through a gap before sending the supporting Mike McMeeken over under the posts.

It sparked a good period for the home side as they bossed the play in the next 20 minutes. More good play saw them hit the front when flowing hands to the left gave Greg Eden the space to race up the touchline for the try, which O’Brien again converted, but despite continuing to look dangerous with ball in hand, the Tigers couldn’t increase their advantage.

Junior Moors came closest when having a score ruled out by the video referee and Cheyse Blair and Paul McShane also had opportunities before Hull hit back in bizarre circumstances as Jordan Johnstone touched down next to the sticks, this time the score getting the nod from upstairs despite several players from both sides being involved in a bust-up in backfield.

Marc Sneyd then edged the Black and Whites back in front with a penalty goal for a late hit in front of the posts and things got worse for the Tigers as Matt Cook was harshly adjudged to have committed the same offence five minutes from the break on his long-awaited return to the side and this time referee Tom Grant handed out a yellow card. Cas did manage to survive until half-time a man down as the teams turned around with Hull leading narrowly 14-12 but they stretched their advantage to two scores when Chris Satae powered over from close range before Cook’s return at the start of the second half.

The Fords managed a response when Grant Millington capitalised on some space on the short side from McShane’s pass but a couple of crucial errors prevented them from sustaining any pressure and Jake Connor punished them, a fortunate juggle creating a gap as the Cas defence hesitated and he put Ben McNamara over for a crucial score at the start of the final quarter.

Again, Cas hit back as McMeeken spun over for his second of the game as the Tigers made some pressure count and skipper Shenton grounded McShane’s grubber shortly afterwards for what looked to be the game-winning try with five minutes left on the clock.

However, the Black and Whites responded by claiming the short kick off and Connor was on-hand to touch down Sneyd’s perfectly weighted kick into the in-goal to win it.

Full Time: Castleford Tigers 28-32 Hull FC

Castleford Tigers

Clare, Sanderson, Blair, Shenton, Eden, O’Brien, McShane, Griffin, Milner, Hepi, Moors, McMeeken, Millington

Interchange                                       

Massey, O’Neill, Cook, Peachey

Tries: McMeeken (2), Eden, Millington, Shenton

Conversions: O’Brien (5/5)

Sin Bin: Cook

Hull FC

Buchanan, Faraimo, Fonua, Tuimavave, Scott, Connor, Sneyd, Taylor, Johnstone, Bowden, Lane, Savelio, Cator

Interchange

Satae, Sao, Fash, McNamara

Tries: Scott, Johnstone, Satae, McNamara, Connor

Conversions: Sneyd (5/5)

Penalty: Sneyd (1/2)