Tigers rally to sink Crusaders
Castleford showed admirable character to bounce back from a sluggish start and record a 34-22 win at rock bottom Celtic Crusaders.
Last Updated: 26/04/09 6:37pm
Castleford showed admirable character to bounce back from a sluggish start and record a 34-22 win at rock bottom Celtic Crusaders.
The Tigers had found themselves 10-0 down by the quarter-hour mark, but rallied and eventually ran in six tries as they condemned their opponents to yet another defeat.
As a result the Crusaders remain without a win in their debut season in Super League, although the Welsh outfit looked a different side to that which had endured drubbings against both Harlequins and Wigan in the past fortnight.
Having made much the brighter start of the two teams, Crusaders opened the scoring when prop Ryan O'Hara was put in by a neat piece of work from his skipper Jace Van Dijk.
Damien Quinn added the extras and just five minutes later a second try arrived when second-rower Adam Peek powered over from close range.
But Castleford pulled themselves together and, with Brent Sherwin beginning to pull the strings, hauled themselves back into the contest.
Ryan Boyle went over for the first Tigers try on 26 minutes and they were ahead four minutes before the break as James Evans touched down following a clever overhead pass from Ryan McGoldrick allowing Kirk Dixon to kick his second conversion of the afternoon.
But Crusaders ensured they went in leading at the interval as David Tangata Toa broke a tackle and charged over from 40 metres.
That score raised hopes that the hosts could finally break their duck, but a strong second-half display from Cas means their wait goes on for another week at least.
Dixon stormed over for a try which, with his third conversion, brought the Tigers back to within four points, before Michael Wainwright edged them in front with another explosive finish.
Sherwin then set up Michael Shenton for try number five before claiming the try his performance richly deserved in the final minute, O'Hara having claimed his second score of the afternoon earlier in the half.
