CASTLEFORD TIGERS recorded an incredible 26-24 Super League win over Leeds Rhinos to round off the first day of Magic Weekend.
Leeds hit first when Derrell Olpherts strode in for an easy finish in the opening exchanges. Rhyse Martin converted for a 6-0 lead.
The Tigers weren’t behind long, though, as a great pass by Gareth Widdop gave Jordan Turner the space and time to offload to Jacob Miller who ran under the posts. Widdop converted to make it 6-6.
It was two tries in as many minutes for Castleford as Widdop supplied the final pass. His conversion, however, went wayward as the Tigers led 10-6.
Castleford had all the pressure and should have increased their lead with a number of close opportunities, but it was Leeds that retook the lead just before the break when James Bentley got a lucky bounce from a James McDonnell kick. Martin converted to make it 12-10 at half-time.
Two penalties at the start of the second-half handed Leeds a brilliant chance and they duly punished the Tigers, a brilliant Blake Austin pass fired to Martin saw the makeshift centre crash over. Martin converted to make it 18-10.
Castleford hit back through Alex Mellor, but Mikolaj Oledzki’s effort on 63 minutes for what seemed to be the nail in the Castleford coffin as Martin made it 24-14 with the boot.
But, when Mellor grabbed his second shortly after – being forced off with a head injury in the act of scoring – Castleford were back to within four at 24-20 with Widdop’s conversion.
The Tigers made it two tries in two minutes to set up a grandstand finale with Jason Qareqare finishing in the corner with Widdop converting to make it 26-24 to Castleford.
Leeds Rhinos
5 Ash Handley
4 Nene MacDonald
24 Luis Roberts
12 Rhyse Martin
16 Derrell Olpherts
6 Blake Austin
1 Richie Myler
8 Mikolaj Oledzki
14 Jarrod O’Connor
18 Tom Holroyd
19 James McDonnell
25 James Donaldson
13 Cameron Smith
Substitutes
11 James Bentley
17 Justin Sangare
22 Sam Walters
26 Corey Johnson
Tries: Olpherts, Bentley, Martin, Oledzki
Goals: Martin 4/4
Castleford Tigers
6 Gareth Widdop
31 Jason Qareqare
12 Alex Mellor
3 Jordan Turner
26 Elliot Wallis
17 Jack Broadbent
7 Jacob Miller
23 Suaia Matagi
9 Paul McShane
32 Liam Watts
11 Kenny Edwards
8 George Lawler
13 Joe Westerman
Substitutes
10 George Griffin
20 Muizz Mustapha
25 Brad Martin
28 Sam Hall
Tries: Miller, Wallis, Mellor 2, Qareqare
Goals: Widdop 3/5
Half-time: 12-10
Referee: Ben Thaler
