Leeds go third with hard-fought win over Castleford

Betfred Super League

Castleford (0) 6

Tries: Senior Goals: Milnes

Leeds (7) 29

Leeds Rhinos moved up to third in the Super League table with a hard-earned away victory over Castleford Tigers.

It was only 7-0 at half-time with Sam Lisone’s converted try just after the half-hour mark and Jake Connor’s drop-goal a minute before the break the only points of a tight first half.

Louis Senior responded for the Tigers early in the second period to put the hosts within one point of Leeds, but two quick tries from Harry Newman and Ryan Hall put the Rhinos in control.

Castleford were down to 12 men after only eight minutes when Liam Horne was sin-binned for a trip on Connor.

Leeds tried to make the most of the extra man by going the length of the pitch but a poor pass on the last tackle let the Tigers off the hook.

After an arm wrestle of an opening half-hour, the Rhinos scored the first points of the contest through Lisone’s score on 32 minutes with Connor converting.

Connor then slotted a drop goal from in front of the posts to make it 7-0 to the visitors at half-time.

Senior got Castleford’s first points in the opening minute of the second half, collecting Alex Mellor’s offload before crossing, with Rowan Milnes knocking over the extras to close the gap to one point.

But the Rhinos extended their lead ten minutes later when Newman seized on a fumble from a Brodie Croft kick.

Senior thought he had a second for the hosts after 61 minutes when he collected a loose ball to run in from 90 metres but it was ruled out as Mellor had knocked the ball on in a tackle on Connor.

Hall’s score just short of the hour mark – try number 343 for the veteran – moved him ahead of Mick Sullivan into standalone 19th place in the list of all-time scorers in the British game.

That score made the game secure for the Rhinos but there was still time for Newman and Lisone to both get their second tries of the game to secure a fifth victory in six league matches.

Castleford Tigers boss Danny McGuire:

“I was really pleased with the boys, I thought they worked tirelessly and really committed, and I don’t think the score reflected the contest.

“Leeds were in a close contest and they knew it, but they took their opportunities, and rugby league is all about moments. I’m not pleased because we lost, but you can take a defeat if you’ve left everything out there, and I think we did that.

“We haven’t got the win tonight but we know we’re on the right track and we’ve just got to keep working hard.

“There is frustration at times because everyone wants it now. The good times are around the corner, but it will be through patience and hard work and commitment that we get there.”

Leeds Rhinos head coach Brad Arthur:

“We’re chasing just being a little bit better each week and getting our combinations right. Where we sit in the table is nice but not where our priorities are right now. If we get those things right the win column takes care of itself.

“I thought it was pretty professional. We made limited errors and we talked about just making sure we got to the end of the tackle count, and that’s where all our points would come.

Castleford: Hoy; Simm, Cini, L Senior, I Senior; Asi, Milnes; Amone, Horne, Lawler, Lawler, Westerman, Mellor, Singleton.

Interchanges: Hall, Mustapha, Okoro, Atkin.

Sin-bin: Horne (8).

Leeds: Miller; Hall, Handley, Newman, Lumb; Croft, Connor; Oledzki, O’Connor, Jenkins, Gannon, McDonnell, Watkins.

Interchanges: Holroyd, Lisone, Palasia, Smith.