Wildcats tear Cas apart

Wakefield put down a marker for a top-six finish as they recorded a resounding 54-16 derby victory over basement boys Castleford at the Millennium Stadium.

A scintillating start from the Wildcats ensured they built up a commanding lead that, despite their best efforts, the valiant Tigers could never come to terms with.

Wakefield ran in a total of nine tries with Scott Grix claiming a hat-trick and Irish international colleague Damian Blanch helping himself to a brace.

However, in spite of the hat-trick from Grix, it was Cas old boy Danny Brough who again stole the show for the John Kear's men with a display full of creativity both from hand and boot.

The scrum half opened the scoring for his side with a penalty after five minutes, but it was the first try from Adam Watene shortly afterwards that opened the floodgates for Wakefield who then promptly ran in four tries in eight minutes.

Watene spun past four would-be tacklers to touch down from close range to allow Brough to kick the first of his eight conversions.

Sam Obst then powered over before Grix scored the first of his three after a superb long pass out wide from Richard Moore.

It was Moore who grabbed the next following a wonderful break from Brough and Rooney, the big forward rumbling over in the corner to leave Castleford 24-0 with just 21 minutes on the clock.

Character

The Tigers showed some character to fight back bravely and were rewarded when some quick hands from Kirk Dixon allowed Youngster Richard Owen to neatly touch down in the corner.

They started the second period in bright fashion as well to raise hopes of a fightback, but having failed to make the most of a couple of opportunities fell to the sucker-punch when a clever Brough kick bounced kindly off the posts for Grix who collected and grounded despite the attentions of Micheal Shenton and Stuart Donlan.

The impressive Joe Westerman celebrated his new four-year deal with Cas by stretching out expertly to touch down for his side's second try, but once again the Tigers lost any momentum as Blanch almost immediately latched on to a misplaced pass from Ryan McGoldrick to sprint over unopposed under the posts - the easy conversion from Brough putting Wakefield 36-12 ahead.

A wonderful offload from Oliver Wilkes allowed Grix an easy opportunity to wrap up his hat-trick on 56 minutes before Shenton held off Sean Gleeson to touch down and score the Tigers' third and final try eight minutes later.

Brough was denied a magical, virtuoso try his performance deserved after a dubious obstruction call, but it was a temporary reprieve for Castleford as Ryan Atkins took advantage of another handling error to coast over from 20 metres five minutes from time.

The only remaining question was whether Wakefield could bring up their half-century and they duly did so in the final minute as Blanch, in oceans of space out wide, stepped inside his man for a simple finish to complete Castleford's misery.