Fixtures

Two tries within two early second half minutes sealed a game that was hard fought and entertaining throughout; and showed Saints’ attack is as ruthless as ever,

 

James Roby was instrumental in Saints taking a well deserved 16-10 advantage into the break.

 

Ryan Clayton and Craig Huby had cancelled out a lively opening which had seen Saints blast ahead through Kyle Eastmond and Francis Meli.

 

But when Roby broke from within his own half to bamboozle the Tigers’ defence, Maurie Fa’asavalu barged over.

 

Roby put Saints further ahead early in the second half when he stepped in and out of several despairing tackles and from the restart they worked the ball up through the middle and fed Meli for his second.

 

Joe Westerman pulled one back but Kyle Eastmond’s second and Tony Puletua’s effort put pay to any sort of comeback.

 

Leon Pryce and James Roby rounded off the scoring.

 

Saints made a couple of changes from the side that lost to Wigan on Friday. Nick Fozzard made his first appearance for three weeks whilst Matty Ashurst was promoted into the second row.

 

Paul Clough was rested – and Scott Moore was named on a strong bench which also featured James Roby, Bryn Hargreaves and Maurie Fa’asavalu.

 

Saints looked lively in the opening stages, forcing Castleford into a poor kick on their first set. They then grabbed a drop out following a nice chipped ball from Kyle Eastmond that James Graham hunted down.

 

A few minutes later, Eastmond’s kick along the floor sought out another drop out.

 

But, it was almost inevitable Saints would eventually make their pressure pay – and they did with a try right out of the top drawer.

 

Begun by Keiron Cunningham’s feed to Tony Puletua, the big Samoan broke the line, fired a pass out of the back door to Eastmond who duly cleared up for his eighth of the season.

Seconds later, Francis Meli went over in the corner following a sublime cut out pass to underline Saints’ dominant start to the game.

 

Castleford almost hit back with a pass Shaun Ainscough just couldn’t take whilst on 20 minutes Matty Ashurst was grounded just a yard short of the line.

 

The Tigers got themselves right back into the game when Brent Sherwin’s quick pass saw Craig Huby evade the covering defence. Westerman with the simply conversion in front of the posts.

 

And seconds later they were over again – this time an unlikely offload creating a four on one overlap out wide for Ryan Clayton to go over.

 

Although the Tigers’ centre took his score well, there was a clear knock on in the build up right in Castleford’s half that was missed by Phil Bentham.

 

On 33 minutes, Saints lost the ball in their own 40 and Cas, who’d had the better of the game since their double-score almost made them pay. This time a ball from Michael Shenton almost had Michael Wainwright putting the home side ahead.

 

Saints needed to maintain their composure and they did – James Roby going more than 60 yards but ignoring the four on one overlap on his left to cut back inside. From there, through Chris Dean, the ball went right and Ade Gardner was inches from putting his side up.

 

On Saints next set Roby flew 40 yards this time carving open the Castleford defence. They had no choice to smother his attempts to play the ball – and take Matt Gidley out – and from the penalty Maurie Fa’asavalu hit the ball at speed to score... and take three over the line with him. Eastmond making it 16-10.

Ade Gardner took a high Sherwin ball early in the second half then James Roby danced under the sticks following some superb offloading from both Chris Dean and Jon Wilkin.

 

And it got even better when from the restart Saints worked the ball up the middle and then to the left for Francis Meli to nab his second. Eastmond sending his kick right through the posts.

 

Castleford once again fought back, and straight off a harsh Phil Bentham penalty, Joe Westerman went over.

 

On 60 minutes Francis Meli was penalised in his own 40 for failing to play the ball correctly and on the back of another penalty – a staggering 10 against the Saints in just 60 minutes – the ball flew wide and thankfully hit the deck as Clayton just couldn’t gather it in.

 

But Saints weren’t going to let Cas back in and hit back with a score of their own through Kyle Eastmond who, almost commando style, scrambled along the floor for his second.

 

Tony Puletua showed strength moments later to cross – Eastmond converting.

 

Wilkin scampered 50 yards to set up field position for Pryce to go over, Eastmond popping over the conversion with the wind swirling around his boots.

 

Nick Fozzard was placed on report late on for an altercation in the tackle but from the penalty, Jon Wilkin intercepted and fed Francis Meli. The winger was caught around 20 yards out and when the ball came left from Cunningham, Roby was in for his second.

 

Eastmond notched over his eighth kick from nine attempts.

 

Michael Shenton grabbed a late consolation as the hooter went.

 

 

Tries: Huby, Clayton, Westerman, Shenton

Goals: Westerman (1 from 2), Huby (0 from 1)

 

Tries: Eastmond (2), Meli (2), Fa’asavalu, Roby (2), Puletua, Pryce

Goals: Eastmond (7 from 8)

 

Castleford: 13

Saints: 8

 

HT (Sts First): 16-10

 

FT (Sts First): 52-18

 

REF: Phil Bentham

 

ATT: 6879

 

 

23. Ryan McGoldrick; 27. Shaun Ainscough, 17. Ryan Clayton, 3. Michael Shenton, 5. Michael Wainwright; 6. Rangi Chase, 7. Brent Sherwin; 8. Mitchell Sargent, 9. Ryan Hudson, 16. Paul Jackson, 14. Stuart Jones, 30. Chris Tuson, 13. Joe Westerman.

Subs:10. Craig Huby, 15. Liam Higgins, 19. Kirk Netherton, 29. Mike Cooper.

 

6. Leon Pryce; 2. Ade Gardner, 3. Matt Gidley, 19. Chris Dean, 5. Francis Meli; 12. Jon Wilkin, 7. Kyle Eastmond; 10. James Graham, 9. Keiron Cunningham, 8. Nick Fozzard, 18. Matty Ashurst, 13. Chris Flannery, 11. Tony Puletua.

Subs: 14. James Roby, 15. Bryn Hargreaves, 16. Scott Moore, 23. Maurie Fa’asavalu.