Tigers too strong for Cats

Wakefield showed plenty of spirit but eventually went down 40-20 to neighbours Castleford in the Magic Weekend derby clash.

Teenagers Joe Arundel and Adam Milner got amongst the tries for the Tigers, as they ensured the Wildcats' season got off to a losing start.

Castleford coach Terry Matterson, who gave debuts to Richard Mathers, Nick Youngquest and Jake Emmitt, will have been encouraged by the performances of his youngsters but it was last year's player of the year Rangi Chase who put in a starring performance.

Chase combined with past and present captains Ryan Hudson and Danny Orr to carve out a sixth-minute try for 19-year-old centre Arundel.

The Tigers ought to have been further ahead but Mathers spilled Orr's pass with the Wildcats line breached and Wakefield drew level on 19 minutes when veteran French hooker Julien Rinaldi burrowed his way over from dummy half.

The game appeared to swing Wakefield's way on 24 minutes when Arundel was sent to the sin bin for persistent infringing by the Tigers and the Wildcats immediately made the extra man count, with second rower Dale Ferguson taking Sam Obst's pass to crash over for a second try.

Debutant Josh Vievers added the goal to make it 10-4 but Castleford seized control with three tries in the last 10 minutes of the first half.

First Chase offloaded from the tackle to get centre Brett Ferres over the line and the Tigers were still down to 12 men when they regained the lead, as Chase's long pass hit Youngquest unmarked for the simplest of tries.

Kirk Dixon was off target with all three conversion attempts but he eventually found the mark after substitute Dean Widders had forced his way over for a fourth try from close range in stoppage time.

By then Wakefield were down to 12 men after referee James Child lost his patience with the infringements of both teams and sent scrum half Obst to the sin bin, awarding a 20th penalty of the first half at the same time.

Picked off

Any hope Wakefield had of getting back in the game disappeared within a minute of the re-start when Chase picked off a pass from Tommy Lee and raced 30 metres for an interception try.

Video referee Steve Ganson disallowed a try by Dixon for a knock-on but ruled in favour of Milner on 50 minutes after two defenders fell off him as he sped away to the line from dummy half.

Trailing 28-10, the Wildcats showed good spirit to rally, with Ferguson getting his second try before a spectacular 80-metre effort by left winger Luke George.

But When Wakefield found themselves down to 12 men for a second time, this time with Daryl Millard in the bin, prop Paul Jackson went over for a rare try, matching his tally for the whole of last season in the opening game.

And the Tigers stretched their lead further in the closing moments, with Widders adding a second try just before the end and Dixon knocking over his fourth goal.