ST HELENS 36 CASTLEFORD TIGERS 12
KASEY SMITH, BrewDog Stadium, Saturday

TWELVE-MAN St Helens stormed to a big win over Castleford to keep their play-off hopes alive.

Saints overcame a moment of madness to maintain the pressure the top six, seeing Jackson Hastings sent off for a punch 30 seconds before half-time.

Super League’s most successful side are in danger of missing out on the play-offs for the first time in more than 60 years, following a turbulent year both on and off the field.

For the best part of the opening 40 minutes, however, it was as complete a performance as you could wish to see, with Saints utterly dominant against a Castleford side who have endured their own fair share of turmoil this year.

Even a brain explosion from the Saints captain – who allowed his aggression to get the better of him by throwing a punch in the direction of a seething Tyler Dupree – could not derail the home side. 

Hastings was shown red, while Dupree received a yellow and had to be forcibly held back by assistant coach Scott Murrell as the Castleford prop headed off down the tunnel, intent on continuing the scrap.

In many ways, the fracas summed up Saints’ season. They have been nowhere near the standards they have set in recent years, with players such as former Man of Steel Hastings expected to be the ones to be relied upon in big moments.

Saints scored early on and it came via a Jack Welsby interception, with the makeshift centre storming from his own half for the try.

Shane Wright was next to cross, dummying a pass before weaving his way over.

The second-rower could have had a second, but for a Nene Macdonald bat-back from a Hastings kick that went forward. Then Saints were denied again as a desperate Tigers side fumbled an intercept.

They were not to be stopped from the scrum, with Jacob Douglas crossing in the corner.

Welsby, enjoying his new role in the centres, burst through the Castleford defence before finding the sprinting Tom Humphreys, who crossed for his first St Helens try.

Humphreys was involved again moments later, breaking through with good footwork before Tristan Sailor, playing at fullback, finished off the move for 30-0.

Such was Saints’ dominance that Castleford did not have sight of their opposition’s goal-line until well beyond the half-hour mark, with one of their rare attacks sparking the confrontation that saw the cards brandished.

The lead was extended further, early in the second half, when Macdonald got on the end of a Harry Robertson grubber. 

Back-to-back six-agains saw Louis Senior grab a consolation before a Tom Weaver dummy opened the door for Phoenix Laulu-Togaga’e to score, with Dupree’s pass for the fullback leaving the BrewDog Stadium crowd screaming for a forward pass.

Remarkably, Saints were reduced to ten in the final stages, with Alex Walmsley and Chris Matagi sinbinned. 

In the end, neither that nor Saints’ red card mattered, but against a side higher up the table, it would doubtless have cost them the game.

GAMESTAR: Tom Humphreys was a bright spark off the bench for St Helens.

GAMEBREAKER: The try for Humphreys gave Saints a 24-0 lead in as many minutes, with the Tigers blown away.

HIGHLIGHT REEL: Harry Robertson’s last-ditch tackle to bundle Louis Senior into touch, denying a certain try – which was backed up by a similar challenge to deny George Lawler moments later – was great to see.

ALBERT GOLDTHORPE POINTS
3 pts Tom Humphreys (St Helens)
2 pts Harry Robertson (St Helens)
1 pt Jack Welsby (St Helens)

MATCHFACTS

SAINTS
6 Tristan Sailor
26 Jacob Douglas
25 Nene Macdonald
1 Jack Welsby
5 Deon Cross
3 Harry Robertson
31 Jackson Hastings
8 Alex Walmsley
22 Joe Shorrocks
35 Daniel Suluka-Fifita
28 Jake Davies
12 Shane Wright
14 Jacob Host
Subs
30 Tom Humphreys
37 Billy Keeley (not used)
38 Matty Evans
39 Chris Matagi
18th man (not used)
34 Cole Marsh
Also in 21-man squad
4 Mark Percival
41 Jack Campbell
– Oscar Knox

Tries: Welsby (4), Wright (7), Douglas (22), Humphreys (24), Sailor (37), Macdonald (48)
Goals: Hastings 5/5, Sailor 1/1
Sin bin: Walmsley (76) – persistent fouling, Matagi (80) – late tackle
Dismissal: Hastings (40) – fighting

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

Tries: Senior (52), Laulu-Togaga’e (63)
Goals: McNamara 2/2
Sin bin: Dupree (40) – fighting

SCORING SEQUENCE: 6-0, 12-0, 18-0, 24-0, 30-0; 36-0, 36-6, 36-12

Rugby Leaguer & League Express Men of the Match
Saints: Tom Humphreys; Tigers: Tom Weaver

Penalty count: 5-8
Half-time: 30-0
Referee: Tom Grant
Attendance: 10,188