Castleford Tigers were in impressive form as they cast aside the Huddersfield Giants last night in an emphatic 26-18 win.
The scoreline suggests the game was closer than it actually was as the Tigers ran into a 26-6 lead at one stage, only to be pegged back by two consolation tries from Chris McQueen and Will Pryce.
The Tigers couldn’t have started any better, weathering a great Huddersfield storm before scoring 14 points in ten minutes.
Derrell Olpherts notched his second try shortly after before Jermaine McGillvary got an important try just before the break as the Tigers led 20-6 at half-time.
Jake Mamo crossed after half-time to make it 26-6 with Chris McQueen getting a consolation score with three minutes left to make it 26-12 before Will Pryce made the game look closer than what it should have been.
There were three negative moments during the 80 minutes for Castleford, however, with Paul McShane and Kenny Edwards receiving yellow cards for a spear tackle and a professional foul respectively whilst star halfback Jake Trueman limped off with a jarred knee.
McShane, however, could be looking at a ban which would see him miss Castleford’s fixture against Leeds Rhinos at St James’ Park for the Magic Weekend.
And, for Sky Sports pundits Phil Clarke and Luke Gale, they believe he will be handed a suspension.
“I said instantly it was a sinbin,” Clarke said.
“And then I felt like it could have been a ban.
“The issue with Paul McShane is that this time last year he seemed to be a shoo-in for a place in the England side, but he seems to have fallen from that certainty and it’s been difficult to find his form.”
Gale – who played alongside McShane for five years at Castleford – believes that it was merely frustration from the hooker whom he knows so well.
“I think it was a bit of frustration from Paul,” Gale said.
“He looks to be carrying a knock and not playing at his best, so he might catch a week with that.”
