Derby day delight for Tigers

Castleford Tigers ran in seven tries in edging out Bradford, 40-38, in a high-scoring thriller at the Grattan Stadium on Sunday.

Michael Shenton (6,47), Rangi Chase (19, 50), Jordan Thompson (44), Joe Westerman (53) and Dean Widders (72) all crossed for the visitors, although Bradford still had a late chance to draw level.

Semi Tadalula (11), Dave Halley (22), Nick Scruton (26), Michael Worrincy (38), Sam Burgess (59) and Ben Jeffries (65, 79) scored the tries for Bradford with the latter of which creating a conversion chance for Paul Deacon to earn a point.

But the normally reliable half-back erred with the boot and so the Tigers escaped with both points to keep their play-off hopes very much alive.

To and fro

Castleford first went ahead after Tadulala lost a Chase kick under pressure and Shenton pounced.

Tadulala soon made amends, though, after a Castleford mistake at the restart allowed the Fiji winger to finish in the corner.

A good break by Chris Nero moments later almost created a chance for Terry Newton to give the Bulls the lead, but the Tigers responded strongly and a Ryan McGoldrick pass sent Chase over by the posts.

Westerman's second conversion gave the visitors a 12-4 lead but Bradford hit back with three more tries from Halley, Scruton and Worrincy to take a 10-point lead into the break.

Late drama

Remarkably, Bradford surrendered their position of dominance by conceding four tries straight after the restart. The first was almost a carbon copy of the opener as Tadulala missed a Chase kick and Shenton this time set up youngster Jordan Thompson.

Tadulala then missed a tackle in Castleford's next attack and Shenton cut inside for his second before Chase sold Deacon a dummy to cross for his second.

The capitulation continued as McGoldrick sent Westerman on his way to the line with a clever pass, but the momentum shifted back in Bradford's favour as Deacon set up Burgess and Jeffries went over from a Newton pass to level the scores at 34-34.

Widders put the visitors back in front by picking off a Newton pass and sprinting 80 metres to score with seven minutes remaining.

But there was still time for one last twist as Halley's break set up Jeffries only for Deacon to miss the goal that would have saved the game.