Tigers rise to the top

Castleford Tigers went top of the engage Super League after coming from eight points down to claim a 27-14 success over Hull KR.

Winger Kirk Dixon scored a try and kicked five goals and teenager Daryl Clark scored a vital 42nd-minute try as the Tigers dominated the second half to send Rovers sliding to a third successive defeat.

Hull KR were without prop Joel Clinton and scrum-half Michael Dobson but hooker Ben Fisher returned on the bench after missing two games with a hamstring injury.

Clark, who made an impressive first-team debut in Castleford's last match against Huddersfield, kept his place on the bench but the Tigers were again without veteran prop Nick Fozzard and hooker Ryan Hudson.

Break

Castleford missed an early chance when Joe Arundel broke clear but failed to spot the unmarked Dixon on his outside when a try was on the cards.

The Tigers then took a fifth-minute lead when Rangi Chase's clever grubber from five metres out saw young second-rower Oliver Holmes grab his first try at senior level, which Dixon goaled.

Rovers quickly replied when Scott Murrell's high kick was fumbled on his own line by Tigers full-back Richard Mathers and Clint Newton pounced for an easy touchdown that Craig Hall converted.

The Tigers had a let-off when Blake Green and Hall split open the home defence but Peter Fox failed to take a difficult pass with the try-line open.

It was only a temporary respite for Castleford, who fell behind in the 15th minute when Green's pass bounced kindly on the ground for Hall to scoop up the ball and score.

Castleford suffered a setback midway through the half when young substitute prop Jonathan Walker was stretchered off shortly after going on.

With half-backs Chase and Danny Orr in lively form, Castleford rallied strongly and Hull KR did well to survive a spell of pressure before they stretched their lead in the 28th minute when Murrell sent in Ben Galea from close range.

Castleford's Mathers made another blunder when he threw out a dreadful pass in his own in-goal area but fortunately for him the ball went dead.

Error

Shortly before half-time, Hull KR were punished for a bad handling error near the Castleford 20-metre line. Brett Ferres snapped up the loose ball and raced clear before sending in the supporting Nick Youngsquest for a try that Dixon goaled to narrow the deficit to two points.

Substitute Clark, 17, put the Tigers back in front two minutes into the second half when he caught Hull KR napping to dart over from acting half from 10m out and Dixon added the conversion.

Mathers made a good run out of defence to relieve the pressure on the home side as Rovers rallied strongly.

Castleford then started to take a firm grip on the game and kept Rovers pinned in their own half for long periods.

They went further ahead when Joe Arundel put in Dixon ten minutes from time.

Dixon improved his own try and kicked a penalty before Chase completed the scoring with a last minute drop-goal.