Hull secure play-off berth

Willie Manu: two tries for Hull

Hull crushed Castleford 50-18 at the PROBIZ Coliseum in front of a large and noisy away following.

The Black and White hordes were rewarded for their journey as they watched their side produce a dominant second half display to secure a top-eight spot.

But Castleford will need to win their last match at Hull KR next weekend to join the Airlie Birds in the play-offs, after failing to give coach Terry Matterson a winning send-off in his last home game.

Two former Castleford men starred for Hull, with Willie Manu scoring two of their nine tries and his second row partner Joe Westerman kicking seven goals

A third defeat in four matches meant the Tigers dropped out of the top eight for the first time this year, but they will have one last chance to extend their season when they take on Rovers, who were 30-28 winners over Catalan Dragons.

Two long-range tries from England winger Tom Briscoe were the highlight of Hull's impressive performance but it was his centre partner Kirk Yeaman who opening the scoring, marking his return from suspension with his 21st Super League try of the season after just five minutes.

Westerman was handed the goalkicking responsibility in the absence of the injured Danny Tickle and he was wide with his first conversion attempt.

Hull went 10-0 up 10 minutes later when Richard Horne hoisted a high kick and centre Jordan Turner leapt above Willie Isa to touch down for the first of his two tries and Westerman opened his goal account.

Castleford got themselves back into the game largely through the efforts of Rangi Chase, who was once more their most threatening attacking player.

He regathered his own kick to set up half-back partner Danny Orr for a 19th-minute try and the Tigers captain added the goal to cut the gap to just four points.

The Tigers ought to have made more of another clean break from Chase but the supporting Steve Snitch was stopped by Hull full-back Cameron Phelps and the visitors took a firm grip on the game with two tries in the last four minutes of the first half.

Brilliant

England winger Briscoe gave a demonstration of his skills after being put into space by Yeaman, turning Ryan McGoldrick inside out and fending off Richard Mathers to score a brilliant 60-metre try.

Castleford had barely re-started when more sloppy defending allowed Manu to burst through for a fourth try in the last play of the first half and, with Westerman's third goal, Hull were comfortably placed at 22-6.

The home side rallied briefly, with Chase's 40-20 kick setting up the position for winger Nick Youngquest to go past Richard Whiting for a try, with Orr landing the touchline conversion.

But that was as good as it got for the Tigers and winger Richard Owen summed up their night when he three times kicked out on the full from the restart.

Hull never looked like relinquishing their grip and, after Westerman offloaded from the tackle for hooker Danny Houghton to score on 55 minutes, they cut loose with three further tries in the final quarter.

Manu raced past some non-existent tackling for his second try, Briscoe caught a bomb to race 90 metres for his second and Yeaman carved out one for replacement winger Will Sharp.

Castleford finished a well-beaten side but they grabbed some late consolation when Dean Widders set up a try for Isa and Orr kicked another touchline goal.