Wounded Tigers bite back

Joe Westerman was in seventh heaven with a perfect goal-kicking display to help Castleford beat Salford City Reds 30-12 at the Jungle.

The forward kicked seven goals from seven attempts as the Tigers bounced back from their shock 34-28 defeat to Barrow in the Challenge Cup.

That defeat had made it five losses in their previous six home games this season but the Tigers brought some rumble back to the Jungle against the Reds.

As well as Westerman's goals, Terry Matterson's side ran in four tries through Ryan McGoldrick, Mitchell Sargent, Jordan Thompson and Stuart Jones.

The Reds responded with efforts from Ashley Gibson and Mark Henry, with Daniel Holdsworth adding the extras, but the hosts won a scrappy encounter to move two points above their opponents in the Super League table.

Castleford welcomed back Australian scrum-half Brent Sherwin for his 50th appearance and prop Liam Higgins, who both missed the defeat against Barrow because of shoulder injuries, while Salford recalled winger Steve Tyrer in place of the sidelined Jodie Broughton.

Early onslaught

The Reds survived an early onslaught after they were caught napping when the ball went into touch from Castleford's kick off.

But with half-backs Rangi Chase and Sherwin dictating play, the Tigers continued to make all the running.

And it was no surprise when they took a sixth-minute lead as slick handling by Chase and Sherwin made the opening for McGoldrick to glide through for a try that Westerman converted.

Castleford survived a let-off two minutes later when Sherwin slipped as he attempted to put in a clearance kick, but Salford's Ray Cashmere failed to gather the loose ball when he had an overlap outside.

The visitors were their own worst enemies as they gifted their opponents possession by losing the ball in their own half but the Tigers failed to capitalise and were also guilty of handling errors as the game became increasingly scrappy in the wet conditions.

Salford's Stefan Ratchford made a promising half-break but the move fizzled out when he lost his footing, while Castleford dominated territory and missed a chance to increase their lead when Westerman was unable to hold McGoldrick's pass near the try line.

Westerman then kicked a 30th-minute goal after Ratchford was penalised for impeding Stuart Jones as he attempted to chase a charged-down kick.

On target

Three minutes later, the Tigers loose-forward was on target again to make it 10-0 after the Reds were penalised for interference at a play the ball.

Salford hit back on the stroke of half-time after Chase lost the ball near his own posts, Daniel Holdsworth's clever chip-kick setting up a try for Gibson which Holdsworth converted to reduce the deficit to four points.

At the start of the second half, Castleford pressed strongly and increased their lead when Ryan Hudson's deft pass sent Aussie prop Sargent plunging over for a 54th-minute touchdown that Westerman converted.

Salford struck back nine minutes later when Gibson's crossfield kick led to Mark Henry scoring and Holdsworth added the extras to cut the gap to 16-12.

But just when the Tigers looked to be wobbling, they were given a huge lift when young full-back Thompson scored from Chase's well-placed kick.

They then sealed victory two minutes from time when Sherwin's boot set up a try for Jones, Westerman adding his seventh goal to round out the scoring.