Castleford secure third with seven-try romp over Wakefield

James Messenger

Castleford secured third spot and a trip to Wigan in the play-offs after cruising to a 42-10 victory over Wakefield at the Mend-A-Hose Jungle.

Greg Eden latched onto a kick over the top to touch down after less than one minute to open the scoring before a sweeping move found the winger just eight minutes later to make it 12-0.

Greg Minikin added his name to the scoresheet on the opposite flank – capitalising on a Tyler Randell yellow card – before Bill Tupou opened the visitors’ account seven minutes after the interval.

Daryl Powell’s side made the game safe thanks to Grant Millington’s surging run and Greg Eden’s third, either side of a Reece Lyne try made through shear perseverance.

There was still time, however, for Eden to add a fourth in the corner before Junior Moors supported Paul McShane’s half-break to round off an emphatic victory for the home side.

For large spells, the Tigers proved why they are the dark horses for a spot in this year’s Grand Final, cutting their local rivals apart with their crisp handling and precision attacking down the flanks.

Defeat for Chris Chester’s side continued the topsy-turvy form that has seen Trinity win four and lose four of their previous eight games, but has done little to hamper their chances of finishing in the top five, which will be secured with victory at home to Warrington next Friday.

Castleford Tigers 42- T: Eden 4, Minikin, Millington, Moors G: Gale 7

Wakefield Trinity 10- T: Tupou, Lyne G: Hampshire 

Castleford: Mata’utia, Minikin, Webster, Shenton, Eden, Trueman, Gale, Watts, McShane, Millington, Moors, McMeeken, Massey.

Replacements: Roberts, Milner, Sene-Lefao, Clark.

Wakefield: Grix, Jones-Bishop, Lyne, Arundel, Tupou, Hampshire, Wood, Huby, Randell, Arona, Batchelor, Ashurst, Crowther.

Replacements: Horo, Annakin, Pauli, Jowitt.

Referee: Gareth Hewer