Isa cashes in for Tigers

Castleford returned to the top of the Engage Super League with a 20-18 victory over Hull at the KC Stadium.

Willie Isa crossed either side of half-time after Richard Owen opened the scoring for the Tigers, who increased the pressure on under-fire Hull coach Richard Agar.

Isa's try on the hour proved to be the clincher after the hosts gave as good as they got for much of the contest.

Sam Moa made an early break that Craig Fitzgibbon was unable to to finish but the match was only six minutes old when prop Lee Radford was sin-binned for a dangerous tackle.

That gave Castleford the chance to get on top and they were in front after 12 minutes when Kirk Dixon kicked a penalty.

A handling error from wing Will Sharp allowed Tigers to cross for the first time, Owen making a successful return to action after more than a year out as he latched onto a Rangi Chase kick-through.

Hull hit back six minutes later though, Kirk Yeaman scoring his sixth try of the campaign after Cameron Phelps had created a three on one overlap.

The home side applied the pressure but were unable to make it count and Isa made them pay five minutes before the break after Danny Orr put him in witha fine delayed pass.

Bundle

Joe Westerman split the posts with a penalty for Hull with the last kick of the half, and they would have been ahead 10 minutes after the break had Whiting had the pace to go 60 metres after swooping on a loose ball.

However, they pulled level at 10-10 moments later thanks to a close-range score from Danny Tickle, with the same player kicking the goal to give his side the lead for the first time on the night.

Some Hull indiscipline allowed Dixon to kick another penalty and level the scores once more, before Isa went over for his second to regain the lead for Terry Matterson's men.

Chase, whose movement foxed Hull's defence all night, ran at their right-edge defence before laying in former Melbourne centre Isa who smashed his way over the line.

Dixon added the conversion and referee James Child, who awarded 26 penalties on the night, then sent Long and Martin Aspinwall to the sin bin for starting a brawl that involved the majority of the 26 players on the field.

Dixon kicked a third penalty from 42 metres to give Castleford some breathing space, which they quickly needed as Fitzgibbon went in off a short ball and Tickle added the goal.

But Hull's chances evaporated when Long was sent off late on after his involvement in another ugly-looking incident.