Castleford 40-16 Wakefield

Castleford Tigers gained advantage in the race for the end-of-season play-offs after storming to a 40-16 victory over local rivals Wakefield Trinity Wildcats.

The game had been billed as potentially a four-point game as both sides looked to close-in on making the knock-out stages for the second season running.

Wakefield went in at the half-time interval 10-6 ahead but were put to the sword in the second half by a clinical attacking display with Kirk Dixon and Dean Widders grabbing a brace of tries each to put Cas – who have scored 114 points in their last three outings – back in the top eight.

Terry Matterson’s men opened their account early on courtesy of a Joe Westerman penalty but Wakefield hit back through a sweeping move culminating in Glenn Morrison scoring his first try of the afternoon.

Widders provided the pass for Castleford’s – and Dixon’s – first try of the afternoon, the latter scraping in at the corner.

The Tigers had large spells of possession and failed to take advantage and despite having Sean Gleeson sin-binned for dissent, the Wildcats took the lead thanks to Matt Blaymire‘s effort.

But Cas stormed to a super victory thanks to an inspirational second-half performance that Wakefield could not deal with.

Dixon grabbed his second just minutes after the interval and that was followed by Michael Wainwright‘s try after Brett Ferres slipped a short-pass out to the winger.

Morrison’s fine solo effort gave Wakefield a shout, Paul Cooke converting, at 18-16 but a string of errors and gritty defence from Cas ensured the hosts flourished.

Widders became the star of the show, hia first coming from a superb Rangi Chase grubber and five minutes later motored through some tired defence, showing a superb dummy in the process, to grab his second.

And the victory was sealed in fine fashion with Ryan McGoldrick‘s effort, a thrilling exchange between the popular Australian and England international Michael Shenton, and captain Ryan Hudson racing through to dive over the whitewash in fine style.