Castleford Tigers v Salford Red Devils was one of two games on Friday night in Super League as the bottom two sides faced off.
Castleford were without second-rower Jeremiah Simbiken after he picked up two separate one-match suspensions.
Loanee winger Lee Kershaw was recalled by Hull KR so there was a shuffle around in the backline, with Josh Simm coming back into the side.
Salford were able to use up their full £1.2 million salary cap, meaning they were at close-to full strength with their side.
Tim Lafai and Brad Singleton dropped out as youngster Kai Morgan started at hooker, with Marc Sneyd and Chris Atkin in the halves.
Here’s our Castleford Tigers v Salford Red Devils verdict as the game unfolded.
Castleford take the points over Salford in a close-knit game
The game started off with a frantic and frenetic first couple of minutes, with Salford’s Marc Sneyd getting a 40/20 in the first minute with his very first touch.
After that, both sides were evenly matched in the first ten minutes or so. Salford’s kicking game looked strong from the off whereas Castleford decided to run the ball more.
Kallum Watkins was sent to the sin-bin in the 19th minute following a tackle on Daejarn Asi that was deemed head-high and late.
Just minutes later, Chris Hill was lucky to not follow Watkins into the bin as he was penalised for a high shot but escaped with just a penalty to the Tigers.
It took twenty minutes for the first try, which went Castleford’s way. Liam Horne added some much-needed oomph to the Tigers’ attack and scored a typical hooker’s try.
Dan Okoro, on debut, offloaded over his left shoulder for Horne to collect and run in ten metres. Tex Hoy’s conversion gave Castleford a 6-0 lead.
Salford got themselves back level five minutes before half-time with a fantastic offload around the body of his tackler for Ryan Brierley to race to the line with some side-stepping of his own. Sneyd converted for a 6-6 scoreline.
Three minutes later, Sneyd grabbed his Salford side a 20/40 and once again, controlled the game with his kicking skills. The Red Devils threw the ball around for the last two minutes of the half in front of Castelford’s line but to no avail.
It must’ve been a motivational team talk from coach Danny McGuire at half-time because Castleford lifted their game early doors.
The second half got off to a quick start as Castleford thought they were in for a try but video referee Ben Thaler deemed the ball to be knocked on by Mustapha.
Mustapha got a chance to redeem himself just two minutes later and Judah Rimbu passed out to him and he ran thirty metres for a superb solo effort. Hoy’s conversion gave the Tigers a 12-6 lead before a penalty.
Salford responded in the 53rd minute as debutant Kai Morgan found a gap on his own 40m line and broke down the middle before finding Watkins on his right for him to score. Sneyd’s conversion brought Salford within two at 14-12.
Salford got a penalty after Zac Cini’s high shot around 40m out but Sneyd missed the chance to level the score with it.
Castleford had the perfect chance to extend their lead as Sam Wood gathered the ball over the tryline but grounded it on his own knee, rather than the turf, before losing the ball forward.
The Red Devils went for two Captain’s Challenges in quick succession, with the first to gain a one-on-one steal and the second for a Rimbu knock-on on the floor, and they were successful in both.
However, the second one went against them as Thaler deemed Salford had knocked on first at the play of the ball before Castleford even got the ball themselves.
Salford managed to make it level at 14-14 with a Sneyd penalty after a high shot on him.
We then got into drop goal time with both Sneyd and Asi’s attempts unsuccessful before Rimbu managed to seal it for the Tigers as he dived over close to the posts. Hoy’s conversion made it 20-14 to the home side before he got two penalties late on.
Only one was successful for a full-time score of 22-14 to the Tigers. It was a close-fought encounter, with standout performances from Castleford’s Rimbu, Mustapha and Okoro as well as Sneyd, Chris Hankinson and Hill for Salford.
Good day for
Castleford’s running game. Whilst Marc Sneyd’s kicking game was outstanding as it often is, Castleford’s running game was better. Whilst both Hoy and Asi are both competent kickers, Castleford looked much stronger with ball in hand, especially out of dummy half. Innes Senior made numerous decent runs to start sets off and Rimbu looked to be the glue holding their attack together.
Bad day for
Salford’s discipline. Whilst their attack looked better, their ill-discipline is the last thing their small squad needs right now. Kallum Watkins’ sin-bin will be looked at by the disciplinary on Monday as well as a high shot from Chris Hill and a potential over-the-horizontal leg lift from Chris Atkin.
Star man
Judah Rimbu was the difference between the two sides when he got off the bench, especially in attack. He made a tonne of runs from dummy half and really lifted the Tigers going forward. It would be interesting to see if he has the same impact when he starts a game.
Teams for Castleford Tigers v Salford Red Devils
Castleford Tigers XIII: Fletcher Rooney, Josh Simm, Zac Cini, Sam Wood, Innes Senior, Tex Hoy, Daejarn Asi, Dan Okoro, Cain Robb, George Griffin, George Lawler, Alex Mellor, George Hill.
Interchanges: Liam Horne, Judah Rimbu, Muizz Mustapha, Sylvester Namo.
Salford Red Devils XIII: Ryan Brierley, Deon Cross, Esan Marsters, Nene MacDonald, Chris Hankinson, Chris Atkin, Marc Sneyd, Justin Sangare, Kai Morgan, Jack Ormonroyd, Tiaki Chan, Kallum Watkins, Chris Hill.
Interchanges: Joe Bullock, Matty Foster, Shane Wright, Harvey Wilson.
