Super League: Castleford destroy reigning Super League champions Leeds Rhinos
Last Updated: 13/05/16 9:53am
Castleford all but ended Leeds chances of a super eight finish as they demolished the reigning Super League champions 52-12 at Headingley on Thursday.
A bottom-four finish for Leeds looks assured on this evidence while Castleford are now up to sixth and will have their sights set on the top four after this sparkling show.
The highlight was a first-half hat-trick of tries from full-back Luke Dorn on his return from a two-month injury absence but star of the show was captain Luke Gale, who enhanced his claims for an England call-up while forwards Junior Moors and Gadwin Springer also caught the eye for the visitors in their biggest win of the season.
Leeds had half-back Danny McGuire back to lead them for only the fourth time but he looked distinctly rusty after his latest lay-off.
Yet it all began so promisingly for Leeds with prop Mitch Garbutt taking Rob Burrow's pass to charge through a gap in the visitors' defence for a sixth-minute try, his first of the season, which was goaled by Jordan Lilley.
The lead lasted only four minutes, though, as Castleford began to turn on the style.
Second rower Moors, who proved a handful for the Rhinos all night, squeezed out a pass for Dorn to grab his first try before left winger Denny Solomona produced an acrobatic finish for the Tigers' second, accepting Joel Monaghan's pass from Gale's high kick and touching down one-handed while airborne over the sidelines.
There was no shortage of effort from the fallen champions but much of it was misdirected and when second rower Jamie Jones-Buchanan was held up over the line midway through the first half it was the signal for the visitors to cut loose.
Gale took his side deep into Leeds territory with a jinking run and then kicked into space for the ever-alert Dorn to collect the ball for his second try.
Dorn then took second rower Mike McMeeken's offload just short of the line to complete his hat-trick on 32 minutes and Gale's 40-20 kick just before half-time set up the position for Monaghan to cross unopposed for his side's fifth try, despite the suspicion of an obstruction in the build-up.
The Rhinos looked a weary team as they trooped off at half-time trailing 30-6 and Castleford handed out more punishment after the break, with two further tries within five minutes of the re-start.
Winger Ash Handley fumbled Gale's high kick to gift Solomona a second try and Leeds compounded the error by running offside from the re-start, handing their opponents a glorious attacking opportunity which substitute prop Springer put to good use with a barnstorming run that took six defenders over the line with him.
Gale extended his side's lead to 40-6 with his sixth goal from seven attempts before Leeds showed some lingering spirit with substitute Josh Walters carving out a 52nd-minute try for Handley.
It was little more than consolation as the Tigers continued to delight the travelling fans. Winger Paddy Flynn had a try disallowed on his debut for obstruction but centre Ben Crooks scored his first for the club after intercepting a wayward pass from McGuire.
Gale then got forward Grant Millington over for his side's ninth try and kicked his eighth goal to wrap up the scoring.
