CASTLEFORD TIGERS 6 CATALANS DRAGONS 34
RICKY WILBY, OneBore Stadium, Friday

THE lights went out on Castleford’s big day as they marked their 100th year in slightly embarrassing fashion.

A host of former players and legends of the club held a guard of honour as they hoped to celebrate in style.

But the occasion descended into farce when the stadium lost power 15 minutes into the second half, leaving a packed crowd to light up the stadium with the torches on their phones.

Over 50 club greats including Malcolm Reilly watched in dismay as the stadium stood dark for more than 30 minutes, with both teams leaving the field of play.

It finally got back underway just after 10pm, and only finished at 10.30pm.

When the teams did return, Catalans were definitely the brighter of the two sides as they flicked the switch to run in three unanswered tries, having only led by ten points at the interruption.

They had started very well with Clément Martin having a try ruled out for an offside in the build-up, before smart play down the left freed up Léo Darrélatour to race clear and kick for a Toby Sexton opener.

Sexton’s 40/20 then lead to another period of sustained pressure, with Josh Allen held up before Edenn Rogers-Smith ran a short line off Sexton to score down the right edge.

Guillermo Aispuro-Bichet added both conversions for a 12-0 lead, although they needed Nick Cotric to make two try-saving interventions to keep it that way.

On the stroke of half-time Castleford finally took advantage of an attacking set, keeping the ball alive brilliantly though Phoenix Laulu-Togaga’e and Liam Hood for Lazarus Vaalepu to charge under the posts.

Fellow Leigh loanee Ben McNamara added the conversion to reduce Catalans’ lead to six points at the break.

But the Dragons were first to score in the second half as a Sexton kick to the left edge was knocked back and into the arm of Aispuro-Bichet who sent Darrélatour over despite the best efforts of debutant Daniel Sarbah.

Aispuro-Bichet missed his only conversion attempt to leave the visitors with that ten-point advantage when the game came to a halt.

When play eventually got back underway, a Charlie Staines break created the field position for Alrix Da Costa to send Ben Condon over for a walk-in try to the right of the posts.

Lewis Dodd finished off a brilliant try as the ball was sent to the right through the impressive Da Costa, Rogers-Smith and Matthieu Laguerre, who broke through and offloaded to the supporting Dodd.

Castleford’s restart failed to make the ten and from the penalty, Catalans raced up field and Sexton finished off a play to score under the posts to score his second of the game.

Aispuro-Bichet added his fifth goal as the home fans headed to the exits.

With almost the last play of the game, Catalans captain Ben Garcia was sent to the sin bin for a professional foul.

GAMESTAR: Toby Sexton ran the game for the Dragons – his kicking game was exquisite and he had a hand in almost every try Catalans scored.

GAMEBREAKER: Arguably the lights going out. Catalans lead was ten points and Cas failed to score a point when they returned to the field.

HIGHLIGHT REEL: Catalans’ first try silenced the OneBore as Léo Darrélatour showed great pace and skill to race down the touchline and then put in a smart kick for Toby Sexton.

ALBERT GOLDTHORPE POINTS
3 pts Toby Sexton (Catalans)
2 pts Alrix Da Costa (Catalans)
1 pt Phoenix Laulu-Togaga’e (Castleford)

MATCHFACTS

TIGERS
35 Phoenix Laulu-Togaga’e
21 Louis Senior
42 Keanan Brand
12 Alex Mellor
44 Daniel Sarbah (D)
6 Daejarn Asi
43 Ben McNamara
8 Renouf Atoni
9 Liam Hood
10 George Lawler
11 Jordan Lane
39 Jack Brown
13 Joe Stimson
Subs (all used)
25 Sam Hall
27 Cain Robb
36 Tyler Dupree
41 Lazarus Vaalepu
18th man (not used)
14 Brock Greacen
Also in 21-man squad
5 Mikaele Ravalawa
7 Tom Weaver
34 Goerge Hirst

Tries: Vaalepu (37)
Goals: McNamara 1/1

DRAGONS
1 Charlie Staines
3 Nick Cotric
27 Clément Martin
24 Guillermo Aispuro-Bichet
28 Léo Darrélatour
6 Toby Sexton
7 Lewis Dodd
16 Josh Allen
26 Ugo Tison
10 Julian Bousquet
13 Ben Garcia
33 Edenn Rogers-Smith
9 Alrix Da Costa
Subs (all used)
12 Ben Condon
21 Matthieu Laguerre
29 Giovanni Descalzi
35 Mickael Goudemand (D2)
18th man (not used)
30 Alexis Lis
Also in 21-man squad
8 Tevita Satae
25 Lenny Marc
32 Adrian Delarose

Tries: Sexton (8, 73), Rogers-Smith (20), Darrélatour (47), Condon (59), Dodd (70)
Goals: Aispuro-Bichet 5/6
Sin bin: Garcia (80) – professional foul

SCORING SEQUENCE: 0-6, 0-12, 6-12; 6-16, 6-22, 6-28, 6-34

Rugby Leaguer & League Express Men of the Match
Tigers: Phoenix-Laulu-Togaga’e; Dragons: Toby Sexton

Penalty count: 3-5
Half-time: 6-12
Referee: James Vella
Attendance: 9,255