CASTLEFORD TIGERS 14 YORK KNIGHTS 20
JACOB KILBRIDE, OneBore Stadium, Friday

YORK claimed an historic first win at Castleford since 1975 to snap a six-match losing streak.

Newly-promoted York had been written off by many in their maiden Super League season after a run of eleven defeats in twelve matches, the most recent a painful 72-20 thrashing at the hands of Wigan.

Yet the fight, application and desire the Knights have shown all season, in the face of an incredible amount of adversity, has still been evident throughout, with Mark Applegarth’s side finally grabbing their just rewards and a first win on the road since February.

For the Tigers, the optimism garnered after a run of three wins in five has quickly dissipated after such an error-strewn display and with a daunting six-match run against sides above them in the ladder now to come.

Not that such a performance appeared on the cards after a bright start. On seven minutes, Tom Weaver stood up a kick to the right, with Louis Senior’s pat down falling kindly into the hands of Phoenix Laulu-Togaga’e who sent the acrobatic Semi Valemei diving in at the corner.

Any thoughts that a Castleford points procession would follow were quickly extinguished as York immediately responded from their first sniff at the tryline.

Ex-Tigers hero Paul McShane – back at the OneBore Stadium for the first time since his 2024 departure and restored to the line-up following a calf injury – jinked past a weak George Hirst tackle and put Cody Hunter over the whitewash, with the Australian converting his own try.

Fellow former Castleford captain Sam Wood endured a less happy return to his old stomping ground when a crusher tackle on Jason Qareqare saw referee Ryan Cox produce the yellow card.

York’s numerically-disadvantaged right edge was subsequently undone when Laulu-Togaga’e fired a sublime cut-out pass for Qareqare to dot down.

Weaver added the two but no further first-half points were forthcoming, with the Tigers lacking any cutting edge when in striking range.

Within seconds of the restart, Castleford’s wastefulness with the ball was soon evident and after a series of handling errors, York finally grabbed a thoroughly deserved leveller.

Having already kicked the ball out on the full and knocked-on inside his ten, Weaver’s woeful half continued when Oli Field ran straight over the ex-Gold Coast Titan from Hunter’s short ball.

York could not be kept at bay, earning more possession when Krystian Mapapalangi was dragged into touch by a swarm of Knights defenders and duly profiting through David Nofoaluma’s dive to the left corner via a Nikau Williams offload.

And with nine minutes left, the evergreen McShane stood up a kick for Scott Galeano who wrestled past Qareqare in the air for a 20-10 lead.

The Wheldon Road End finally had something to cheer when Valemei touched down an Asi grubber after a neat Tyler Dupree offload and the home crowd roared on one final chance.

Desperately shifting the ball to the left edge, Laulu-Togaga’e delivered another cut-out pass into Qareqare but the video referee confirmed the winger short of the tryline and sealed an historic night for the visitors.

GAMESTAR: Aging like a fine wine, Paul McShane produced an imperious display on his return at halfback, leading York around the park and creating tries for Cody Hunter and Scott Galeano.

GAMEBREAKER: Scott Galeano showed incredible determination to win the aerial battle against Jason Qareqare and take York into an insurmountable two-score lead.

HIGHLIGHT REEL: Phoenix Laulu-Togaga’e was Castleford’s stand-out threat, with his tricky footwork worrying York all night. His classy catch-and-pass cut-out ball for Jason Qareqare’s try was a stunning piece of skill.

ALBERT GOLDTHORPE POINTS
3 pts Paul McShane (York)
2 pts Paul Vaughan (York)
1 pt Phoenix Laulu-Togaga’e (Castleford)

MATCHFACTS

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

Tries: Valemei (7, 74), Qareqare (27)
Goals: Weaver 1/3

KNIGHTS
1 Toa Mata’afa
24 Jon Bennison
5 Scott Galeano
26 Nikau Williams
46 David Nofoauluma
37 Cody Hunter
9 Paul McShane
8 Jack Martin
48 Tom Inman
15 Xavier Va’a
4 Sam Wood
20 Oli Field
13 Jordan Thompson
Subs (all used)
10 Paul Vaughan
14 Denive Balmforth
17 Kieran Hudson
30 Harvey Reynolds
18th man (not used)
7 Liam Harris
Also in 21-man squad
6 Ata Hingano
21 Kieran Buchanan
24 Will Dagger

Tries: Hunter (13), Field (56), Nofoaluma (64), Galeano (71)
Goals: Hunter 2/4
Sin bin: Wood (20) – dangerous tackle

SCORING SEQUENCE: 4-0, 4-6, 10-6; 10-10, 10-16, 10-20, 14-20

Rugby Leaguer & League Express Men of the Match
Tigers: Phoenix Laulu-Togaga’e; Knights: Paul McShane

Penalty count: 3-5
Half-time: 10-6
Referee: Ryan Cox
Attendance: 8,079