Castleford 28-18 Hull FC: Tigers fightback to beat Hull
By PA Sport
Last Updated: 26/02/18 8:18am
Castleford showed a few glimpses of their sparkling 2017 form as they came from 8-0 down to beat Hull 28-18 in the Betfred Super League.
Castleford showed a few glimpses of their sparkling 2017 form as they came from 8-0 down to beat Hull 28-18 in the Betfred Super League.
Skipper Michael Shenton scored two tries and could have had a hat-trick as a makeshift winger as the Tigers continued their recovery from their opening-round thrashing by St Helens.
Hull, like Wigan on Friday night, might well have paid the price for their early season excursion to Australia as they faded after a bright start and it will now be up to Leeds to see if they can overcome the effects of jet lag when they play Widnes on Sunday.
Man of the match was stand-off Jamie Ellis, who had a role in three of Castleford's five tries on his second appearance since rejoining them, while Joe Wardle enjoyed an eye-catching debut.
Wardle was signed from Newcastle Knights as a second rower but found himself back in his old centre spot after Greg Eden went off injured midway through the first half, with Shenton shunted onto the wing, a position in which he revelled in the second half.
It took some time for the Tigers to show their flair, however.
Hull, still without skipper Danny Houghton and vice-captain Scott Taylor, enjoyed the bulk of possession and territory in the first half but failed to make the most of it.
Castleford full-back Ben Roberts, who is striving with mixed fortunes to fill the boots of the suspended and now sacked Zak Hardaker, pulled off a try-saving tackle on dangerous winger Bureta Faraimo but then put his side under pressure by spilling a high ball.
The pressure eventually told midway through the first half when Marc Sneyd dummied his way over wide for the game's first try and kicked the touchline conversion.
Sneyd then increased the lead to 8-0 with a penalty but Castleford showed some signs of regaining their old fluency in the second quarter before going on to boss the show after the break.
They pulled a try back on 28 minutes when right winger Greg Minikin produced a flying finish at the corner after taking Ellis' long, looping pass.
The Tigers then drew level two minutes from the break when centre Jake Webster cut a superb line to breach the visitors' defence for their second try and Luke Gale was on target with the goal to nudge his side in front for the first time.
Hull made the worst possible start to the second half with full-back Jamie Shaul uncharacteristically fumbling Ellis' high kick and that presented Castleford with the opportunity to maintain the momentum.
England second rower Mike McMeeken touched down Ellis' grubber to claim his side's third try and a 40-20 kick from Gale set up the position for Wardle to get Shenton over for the fourth as the Tigers opened up a 12-point lead.
That was cut to eight when Faraimo juggled with Albert Kelly's pass before going over for Hull's second try on 56 minutes.
Shenton scored his second try, from Gale's pass direct from a scrum, and would have completed a hat-trick but for dropping the ball over the line after winning the race to Gale's kick.
Hull prop Mickey Paea forced his way over for a consolation try 13 minutes from the end but Gale had the final say with a penalty.
