Tigers snatch thrilling win

Jones: went over for decisive try

Castleford edged a thrilling West Yorkshire derby 34-30 to boost their Super League play-off chances and all but end Bradford's hopes of a top-eight finish.

The Bulls led 24-18 at the interval after an entertaining first half in which they notched tries from Brett Kearney (2), Gareth Raynor and Shad Royston.

Castleford also crossed through Adam Milner, Joe Arundel and Rangi Chase before Bradford extended their lead shortly after the restart through Paul Sykes.

But Terry Matterson's men dug deep to go over again through former Bulls prop Rob Parker, Arundel and prop Stuart Jones to deal a savage blow to Bradford's campaign.

The visitors moved ahead inside the second minute when Kearney grounded a high kick from Marc Herbert and Patrick Ah Van added the conversion.

The full-back grabbed his second three minutes later after more excellent work from Herbert, whose pass put Kearney clear, and Ah Van again converted.

The Tigers produced a typically spirited response and they claimed their first try in the tenth minute following a period of sustained pressure which led to Milner barging his way over from close range.

Kirk Dixon added the extras but Bradford breached the home side's defence again in the 18th minute when Raynor took a pass from Herbert to cross out wide on the left.

Ahead on stroke of half-time

Ah Van landed another kick but Castleford hit back again in the 24th minute when Arundel capitalised on some weak defending from Bradford to score a try which Dixon converted.

The hosts were level three minutes later when Chase showed a real turn of pace to race on to a grubber kick and ground the ball for a try which Dixon converted to level the scores at 18-18.

But Bradford got their noses back in front on the stroke of half-time, a superb offload from Olivier Elima allowing Royston to go over from close range and Ah Van converted to put Bradford 24-18 ahead.

Less than a minute after the restart, Ben Jeffries and Kearney combined to put Sykes clear down the right channel and Ah Van kicked his fifth goal.

Five minutes later, Parker scored against his old club when he collected a pass from Danny Orr to bulldoze his way over and Dixon converted.

The hosts continued to probe and were rewarded again in the 54th minute when Arundel exposed more suspect defending down Bradford's left-hand side to go over in the right corner.

Dixon missed the conversion from close to the touchline to leave the scores delicately poised at 30-28 in Bradford's favour.

With 15 minutes remaining, Castleford claimed their sixth and decisive try as Jones forced his way over from a few yards with Dixon slotting his fifth goal.