FULL TIME MATCH REPORT

FULL TIME. CASTLEFORD TIGERS 14 HULL FC 24 

A ‘rally’ from the hosts in the second half saw them finish up just falling short to their visitors; Hull FC in Super Leagues 4,999 Round 6 Fixture.

An error coming out of back play, saw the Hull attack open the scoring through Herman Ese’ese; as he wrestled his way over close to the line, with the successful conversion giving the Black & Whites a 6-0 lead in the first ten minutes.

The Tigers began to find gear, with Brad Singleton asking questions coming out of back-play with hard yards; and when Josh Simm showed great pace to race down the right flank, and a clever inside ball to scrum half Rowan Milnes brought the home side back into the game. Milnes added the conversion and drew the scores level at 6-6.

The Hull attack found rewards with a well worked try, switching through several pairs of hands culminating with in-form Aiden Sezer completing the move, before kicking the conversion and swing the game back in their favour.

Tex Hoy good work forced a penalty from the Hull defence, but a penalty shortly afterwards for incorrect play-the-ball by the Castleford attack, gifted yardage up-field, which the Hull FC front line laid the platform for a try in the right corner through Tom Briscoe. Another conversion as the half came to a close saw the visitors lead at the break  18-6.

The ‘game-changer’ proved to be early in the second half. A ‘what’ appeared to be an innocuous tackle from Innes Senior forcing an error and dropped ball from the Hull attack; changing from knock-on decision to penalty in the visitors favour and Senior sent to the sin-bin for ten minutes. Within a minute the Hull half backs had switched the play laterally from right to left and winger Lewis Martin dived over in the corner to take a 22-6 lead.

The Tigers did ‘rally’ well and asked questions but execution of last play evaded them, another penalty against the Tigers shifted the Hull territory to  deep in good-ball, but the Tigers returned through Sam Wood with a strong carry. A big lift from the Hull defence saw Wood drop the ball and a knock on given, but was over-thrown and a penalty given in the Tigers favour, leading to Hulls Amir Bourouh is sent to the sin-bin.

While trying to maximise the extra man, Joe Westerman who was ever-dangerous on his return shifted the ball wide left and to Wood and the strike attack looked imminent but the Hull defence swallowed up the threat.

Senior returned from the bench and quickly made good yardage through the middle to give them good field position but again they couldn’t find a way through.

Singleton and Alex Mellor forced an error from the Hull attack closing space down quickly, but the hosts couldn’t break the Hull defence.

Hull found good possession and found the Tigers backline scrambling, and while the home side held firm;  the resulting penalty for a quick defence line for off-side saw Sezar opt to take the two; and Hull FC increased the lead to 24-6

The late charge from the Tigers looked to set up a frantic finale. Led by Full Back Hoy causing problems when he ghosted through the Hull FC defence and showed them a clean pair of heels and crossed for a try. 24-10 remained with the unsuccessful conversion.

In the final five minutes the Tigers threat continued and pressed forward. Dan Okoro and Cain Robb both trying to find a way through, but pressing the Hull back line when they tied to clear the line saw the Castleford attack with another opportunity. Tigers Stand-off Daejarn Asi shifted the ball wide right, and winger Josh Simms quick feet and direct approach stepped the back line and scored in the corner. T

The unsuccessful conversion was in vain, as they ‘outscored’ their opponents in the second half; the first half points from the Hull attack and early try just after the break leaving the home side falling just short for their second half efforts.

The Tigers have no game next weekend, and return to the Jungle on Saturday 12th April when Leigh Leopards visit. KO 2000Hrs

POTM ; Joe Westerman

CASTLEFORD TIGERS : Hoy, Simm, Cini, Wood, Senior, Asi, Milnes, Lawler, Rimbu, Singleton, Hodson, Mellor, Westerman

INTERCHANGES : Robb, Mustapha, Okoro, Griffin

TRIES : Milnes, Hoy, Simm

CONVERSIONS : Milnes

HULL FC : Rapana, Briscoe, Litten, Chamberlain, Martin, Cust, Sezer, Ese’ese, Bourouh, Knight, Fash, Lane, Asiata

INTERCHANGES : Ashworth, Eseh, Kirby, Moy

TRIES : Ese’ese, Sezer, Briscoe, Martin

CONVERSIONS : Sezer (3)

PENALTY : Sezer

ATTENDANCE : 7458