Tigers lose out at Leopards Den

Castleford go down to Leigh 30-6 at the Leigh Sports Village stadium. 

Cas were called into action early on. Hardaker broke down the right hand side and looked to get past Wallis, who was making his Fords debut. The young winger stood tall though and took him into touch. Shortly after, he was needed again. Briscoe put a low kick in towards the ingoal area and Wallis cleared it into touch and the hosts forced a drop out. 

Cas gained some ground in the minutes that followed and took their chance. A lovely run from Miller who found a brilliant offload to Evalds who broke through the line at pace and gained ground until O’brien brough him down on 20m. Widdop kicked in goal on the last and force Leigh to drop out, and that’s where the Tigers struck. Westerman shoved off three defenders and barged over the line to put the first points on the board. 

Leigh levelled five minutes later. Former Cas man Gareth O’Brien broke the line and offloaded to Lam. Lam found space short of the line but was met by Cas defenders. He offloads to Reynolds to go in under the sticks. 

The Tigers looked like they were in the ascendency once they had decent field position. Jacob Miller stripped the ball from opposite number Lam and Cas went on the march. Broadbent went close after chasing his own kick but it came to nothing. Widdop also tried a stabbed kick through moments later, but to no avail.  

The Tigers got another chance after the Leopards knocked the ball to ground despite regathering and Cas had head and feed. Knocking on the door again, Miller tried a kick in goal but it was grounded and Leigh dropped out again. However, the attack was quashed after a knock on from Griffin just short of the Leigh line. 

Charnley looked to go down the left edge with five minutes of the half remaining, however Broadbent managed to meet him and take him into touch, along with the rest of the arriving defenders. 

A low scoring first half at the LSV, with just one converted try apiece at the interval. 

Straight after the half Leigh were gifted an opportunity. Griffin knocked on at the play the ball just 20m from his own line.The Tigers had to stand strong defending their own line after a six again call and they did. The reward for the Tigers’ resilience came by way of a knock on from Leopards half Reynolds and the pressure was aleivated. Broadbent brought the ball away but was caught high and Cas went up the field. Widdop kicked on the last and Asiata gobbled it up. 

Leigh were next to have a good spell and they did add points, after Mulhern broke after a flat inside ball found him perfectly. He raced away but was brought down just short. Leutele then went close but managed to free the ball on the last and found Charnley, who allowed Lam to kick it through and force a drop out. O’Donnell forecd his way over at the second attempt and put the hosts in front for the first time. 

They extended their lead just 3 minutes later. Seumanufagai barged his way over, and although he looked short of the line, the try was given. With 18 minutes to go, Leigh scored again. Lachlan Lam with a kick through and Faraimo couldn’t get to it first and Leutele grounded it to the left of the posts. 

Leigh thought they’d scored with 8 minutes to go. Cas dropped out short and Turner attempted to knock it back. A Leigh hand did it for him and the ball went to ground, before O’Brien got a toe to it. He grounded and celebrated, but the ref adjudged the ball to have been knocked forward by a Leopard’s hand. However, they did then go on and add more to the scoreline. Davis with a scoot from dummy half and he went in under the sticks. 

That rounded off a tough night for the Tigers and the game finished 30-6 to the hosts.

Scores: 

Leigh Leopards: 

Tries: Reynolds, O’Donnell, Seumanufagai, Leutele, Davis 

Goals Reynolds 5/5 

Castleford Tigers:  

Tries: Westerman 

Goals: Widdop 1/1 

Teams: 

Leigh Leopards: O’Brien, Charnley, Leutele, Hardaker, Briscoe, Reynolds, Lam, Amone, Ipape, Mulhern, ODonnell, Holmes, Asiata 

Interchanges: Mellor, Seumanufagai, Davis, Wilde 

18th man: Gannon 

Castleford Tigers: Evalds, Faraimo, Broadbent, Turner, Wallis, Miller, Widdop, Lawler, McShane, Massey, Milner, Edwards, Westerman 

Interchanges: Hall, Robb, Mellor, Griffin 

18th Man: Martin