Castleford won their opening pre-season encounter with a 42-28 victory over local rivals Featherstone.
The damage was done in the opening half as Cas raced into a 30-0 lead, and although the Championship side did put up a spirited performance at the end to take the gloss off a superb performance, Daryl Powell still saw plenty of positives from his side’s opening pre-season display.
Debut tries for Ben Crooks and Joel Monaghan gave the Tigers a 12-0 lead in the opening quarter before further scores on debut for Greg Minikin and Ryan Hampshire, followed by a late try for Mike McMeeken gave Castleford a commanding 30-0 lead at the interval.
That lead was extended in the opening minute of the second-half as Ash Robson chased on to his own grubber kick to score before Fev finally got on the scoreboard in the 46th minute as debutant Sam Day crashed over after Rovers had won a penalty.
McMeeken grabbed his second and Castleford’s seventh when he charged over from close-range, however from that point onwards Featherstone were on top.
Anthony Thackeray, a new signing from Dewsbury Rams, scored Featherstone’s second-try after an interception and 50-metre sprint before further tries from Colton Roche and two through Kyran Johnson gave Jon Sharp’s side a consolation.
Castleford: Robson, Monaghan, Crooks, Minkin, Hitchcox, Hampshire, Holmes, Springer, McShane, Maher, McMeeken Moors, Jewitt. SUBS: Cook, Westerman, Webster, Milner, Roberts, Gill, Douglas, Sheehan.
Tries: Crooks, Monaghan, Minikin, Hampshire, McMeeken (2) Robson
Goals: Hampshire 7/7
Featherstone: Brown, Johnson, Channing, Cording, Turner, Milner, Thackery, Griffin, Wildie, Bostock, Snitch, Davies, Tagg. SUBS: Day, Cooper, Roche, Ormandroyd, Hill, Sowerby, Coventry.
Tries: Day, Thackeray, Roche, Johnson (2)
Goals: Thackeray 2/2, Johnson 2/3
Attendance: 5,274
For a full report of the game plus match reaction from both coaches, buy the new League Express, available in stores from Monday.
