Tigers pay the penalty

Leeds Rhinos ended their Jungle hoodoo with a thrilling 24-22 victory over Castleford Tigers on Friday night.

With the scores level at 22-22 in the final minute, Kevin Sinfield capitalised on an infrindgement from Michael Shenton by firing over a match-winning penalty with the final kick of the game.

The result was cruel on Cas, who had fought back from 16-0 down to level the match, however Rhinos kept fighting until the final whistle and snatched a victory which takes them level on 18 points with second-placed St Helens.

Tigers went into the match without regulars Richard Owen, Ryan Hudson, Craig Huby, Kirk Netherton and Dean Widders and Leeds took to the sodden pitch aiming for their first win at The Jungle for five years.

Play got underway in driving rain in Castleford and despite Tigers dominating the early stages in terms of territory, it was Rhinos who struck first on five minutes through Rob Burrow.

Hero to Villain

Burrow, playing against his hometown club, expertly manufactured a gap in the Cas defence and slid under the posts which allowed Sinfield to convert.

Things got even better for the drenched Rhinos spectators in the open terracing just two minutes later. Danny Buderus and Jamie Peacock put in a big hit on Ryan McGoldrick and, as the ball went loose, Danny McGuire scooped up the ball and powered under the posts to put Leeds 12-0 ahead.

The visitors suffered an injury blow shortly after when Burrow limped off the field with a leg injury, however the disruption failed to stop the rampant Rhinos.

Undeterred by the greasy conditions, Leeds showed their superior ball-handling skills on 12 minutes when a flowing move was finished off in the corner by Ryan Hall.

Sinfield missed the conversion and more drama followed just seconds later when Hall turned from hero to villain to enable Cas to score their first try of the evening.

Stuart Jones reacted quickest when Hall failed to keep hold of a routine pass, and after kicking the ball over the try-line, the Cas second-rower kept his nerve before grounding.

With both sets of players struggling in the soaking conditions it was Castleford who continued their revival when Kirk Dixon brought the home side within six points of the Super League champions.

Home delight

Dixon reacted first to Rangi Chase's deft kick through the Rhinos defence and touched down for his 40th try for the club. Dixon missed the tough touchline conversion and Rhinos took a 16-10 lead into the interval.

With the momentum well and truly behind the Tigers, Castleford struck again less than five minutes into the second half through the lively Chase.

Ablett's drop inside his own half saw possession change hands and when the ball made its way out to Chase, the diminutive hooker sliced through the Rhinos defence to score under the post.

Dixon's conversion brought the scores level, however that was only the case for two minutes before McGuire crashed over for his second of the night.

Sinfield's sweetly struck conversion restored Rhinos' six-point advantage and that was how the score stayed until the 68th minute.

With Castleford on their last tackle Brent Sherwin launched a high kick deep under the Rhinos posts and Brent Webb slipped and failed to gather ball.

Shenton picked up the pieces gleefully and grounded the ball under the posts to the delight of the home crowd. Dixon held his nerve with the conversion and the scores were locked at 22-22 with 10 minutes left on the clock.

Castleford looked the more likely to snatch a late winner, however when Shenton picked up a knock-on from Sherwin - referee Ian Smith awarded the penalty and Sinfield snatched victory.