CASTLEFORD TIGERS 36 TOULOUSE OLYMPIQUE 18
CALLUM WALKER, OneBore Stadium, Saturday

IT wasn’t pretty at times but Castleford proved far too strong for a Toulouse side that never seemed to click.

Renouf Atoni was a man-mountain from the bench whilst Daejarn Asi and Tom Weaver looked clinical at times as the Tigers leapt to ninth on the Super League ladder.

Ryan Carr made just one change from the side that went down to Catalans, Atoni replacing Sam Hall on the bench.

Lambert Belmas and Maxime Stefani returned for Toulouse in place of Rob Butler and Henry O’Kane but the French side were still blatantly missing livewire Olly Ashall-Bott.

There was little sign of things to come in the early stages as both appeared scared to make any real attacking plays.

As it was, Castleford lost their Captain’s Challenge when Asi’s pass went wayward before César Rougé knocked on close to the line.

The deadlock was finally broken in the 14th minute when Joe Stimson managed to offload to Weaver under the posts. The latter converted for a 6-0 lead.

Asi was battered off the ball in the next set but the Tigers turned down a free shot at goal.

Toulouse were getting some joy down their right though and on several occasions Paul Ulberg found space to canter into, but it was the hosts that stretched their advantage with the half-hour closing in.

A lovely left-to-right move saw Louis Senior glide down the wing before his pass inside was picked up gleefully by Phoenix Laulu-Togaga’e who made no mistake. Weaver’s conversion was superb as Castleford led 12-0.

It was two tries in four minutes for the Tigers. With Asi running things on the last, his pass was sublime to Krystian Mapapalangi and the latter’s offload to Jason Qareqare was even better.

Weaver converted, and was on target again moments before half-time after Zac Cini leapt highest to a pinpoint Asi crossfield special.

The Tigers even had an opportunity to strike on the hooter with Qareqare expertly catching an Asi chip, but Mapapalangi’s reverse pass to his winger found touch.

Two successive penalties at the start of the second half saw Weaver extend Castleford’s lead to 26-0.

And, from a third Toulouse indiscretion, the Tigers had their fifth try of the evening, Asi selling an outrageous dummy to force his way over.

Asi continued to impress and it was his delightful cut-out pass that saw Qareqare dive in at the corner for his second on the hour and 13th try in 18 games.

Toulouse were woeful at times and their kick-off went out on the full, but they did finally get over the line when Benjamin Laguerre just about sneaked in despite Cini’s best efforts.

The visitors grabbed another two late tries when Maxime Stefani grounded a deft Anthony Marion grubber and Rougé stormed under the posts from a neat inside pass.

Shorrocks converted all three, but the night belonged to Castleford.

GAMESTAR: Daejarn Asi scored one try and had a hand in three others.

GAMEBREAKER: Three Castleford tries in eleven minutes just before half-time took the game away from Toulouse.

HIGHLIGHT REEL: Jason Qareqare’s try saw sublime hands from Daejarn Asi and Krystian Mapapalangi.

ALBERT GOLDTHORPE POINTS
3 pts Daejarn Asi (Castleford)
2 pts Tom Weaver (Castleford)
1 pt Renouf Atoni (Castleford)

MATCHFACTS

TIGERS
35 Phoenix Laulu-Togaga’e
21 Louis Senior
3 Zac Cini
23 Krystian Mapapalangi
22 Jason Qareqare
6 Daejarn Asi
7 Tom Weaver
10 George Lawler
31 Ashton Golding
36 Tyler Dupree
32 George Hirst
12 Alex Mellor
13 Joe Stimson
Subs (all used)
8 Renouf Atoni
11 Jordan Lane
27 Cain Robb
38 Jack Brown
18th man (not used)
25 Sam Hall
Also in 21-man-squad
14 Brock Greacen
4 Darnell McIntosh
24 Jenson Windley

Tries: Weaver (14), Laulu-Togaga’e (27), Qareqare (31, 61), Cini (38), Asi (48)
Goals: Weaver 6/7

OLYMPIQUE
29 César Rougé
5 Benjamin Laguerre
25 Luke Polselli
39 Ethan Quai-Ward
2 Paul Ulberg
6 Thomas Lacans
7 Jake Shorrocks
10 James Roumanos
9 Brendan Hands
30 Tiaki Chan
11 Maxime Stefani
12 Mathieu Jussaume
15 Joe Cator
Subs (all used)
8 Lambert Belmas
13 Anthony Marion
20 AJ Wallace
40 John Toleafoa
18th man (not used)
21 Ellis Gillam
Also in 21-man squad
16 Joe Bretherton
27 Hugo Garrigues
28 Mathieu Pons

Tries: Laguerre (67), Stefani (73), Rougé (80)
Goals: Shorrocks 3/3

SCORING SEQUENCE: 6-0, 12-0, 18-0, 24-0; 26-0, 32-0, 36-0, 36-6, 36-12, 36-18

Rugby Leaguer & League Express Men of the Match
Tigers: Daejarn Asi; Olympique: Mathieu Jussaume

Penalty count: 8-4
Half-time: 24-0
Referee: Marcus Griffiths
Attendance: 7,439