Castleford into Super 8s after 38-24 win over Catalans
By PA Sport
Last Updated: 10/07/16 11:24pm
Castleford found their form to finally secure their top-eight place in the First Utility Super League with a 38-24 victory over Catalans Dragons.
Full-back Luke Dorn and winger Ryan Hampshire scored two tries apiece as the Tigers, even without the returning Rangi Chase, halted their four-match losing run in emphatic fashion.
The Dragons sorely missed their injured playmaker Todd Carney as they crashed to a fourth successive defeat in all competitions and could now come under pressure from St Helens to hang onto fourth place in the table.
If the 5,886 home crowd was disappointed not to see one-time favourite Chase back in the Castleford line-up - coach Daryl Powell clearly decided he needed to get back up to match fitness - it very quickly evaporated as the Tigers rediscovered their touch.
Catalans actually started the brighter side, with burly forward Dave Taylor causing all sorts of problems with his devastating running, and winger Fouad Yaha had an early try disallowed for a forward pass.
But Castleford demonstrated their intent by shifting the ball wide at every opportunity and Dorn and centre Ben Crooks combined to get Hampshire over for his first try.
The Dragons briefly went in front when second rower Justin Horo dummied his way over for a try which Thomas Bosc goaled but Hampshire took Dorn's long, looping pass to score his second try after left winger Denny Solomona, Super League's leading try-scorer, had been denied by a forward pass.
Hampshire, who is on a season-long loan from Wigan, had scored just one try in his first 12 appearances for the club but a switch to the wing enabled him to treble his total in one game.
As Castleford stepped up the pressure, centre Greg Minikin and second rower Matt Cook were both held up over the line before substitute Frankie Mariano brought the crowd to its feet with a barnstorming 40-metre break for a try on only his second Super League appearance of the season.
Acting captain Luke Gale kicked his first conversion to make it 14-6 and there was no way back for the visitors when makeshift stand-off Paul McShane forced his way over for the Tigers' fourth try on the stroke of half-time.
Dorn, who will be sorely missed when he returns to Australia at the end of the season, showed his class by slicing through the Catalans defence for two tries in the third quarter and second rower Oliver Holmes also touched down after winning the race to Gale's grubber kick, while Gale took his goal tally to five from seven attempts.
The Dragons were clearly second best in most departments but they continued to play with plenty of spirit and were rewarded when Yaha and skipper Remi Casty scored tries in the third quarter, both converted by Bosc.
The game became scrappy in the final quarter, the only score coming in the final minute when prop Julian Bousquet crashed over for the visitors' fourth try, to which Tony Gigot added the goal.
