Sun, 11 June 2006
Castleford Tigers 26
Bradford Bulls 26
Bradford Bulls: Michael Withers, Marcus St Hilaire, Ben Harris, Shontayne Hape, Lesley Vainikolo, Iestyn Harris, Paul Deacon, Terry Newton, Stuart Fielden, Andy Lynch, Chris McKenna, Bradley Meyers, Jamie Langley
Subs: Stanley Gene, Joe Vagana, Ian Henderson, Brett Ferres
Tries: Michael Withers, Shontayne Hape, Paul Deacon, Terry Newton (2)
Goals: Paul Deacon (3)
Castleford Tigers: Platt, Pryce, Viane, Bird, Shenton, McGoldrick, Lupton, Sculthorpe, Henderson, Nutley, Ward.
Subs: Handforth, Huby, Fa'aoso, A Fletcher.
Tries: Pryce, Manu, Sculthorpe, Shenton
Goals: McGoldrick (2), Huby
But the draw was secured with a Michael Shenton score in the very last minute, with Craig Huby's nerveless conversion from the touchline securing a result that puts his side a full seven points clear of bottom club Wigan.
Playing in sweltering conditions, Steve McNamara's side commanded early proceedings, going 12-0 up within seven minutes.
Michael Withers was the scorer, the full-back having the simplest of runs to the line after Iestyn Harris had opened up the Tigers' defence with a run wide.
The visitors promptly went further ahead when Marcus St Hilaire having cut inside, kicked forward, for hooker Terry Newton to react quickly for a touch down.
Paul Deacon converted both but, in the face of such a start, Castleford's reponse was nothing less than outstanding.
After putting determined pressure on Bradford's line, reward finally came when Danny Sculthorpe's pass was finished by Wayne Pryce in the corner.
Castleford's momentum continued when a fine reverse pass from Ryan McGoldrick was collected and touched down by Willie Manu behind the posts.
Sculthorpe then spotted a gap to touch down for a try of his own, McGoldrick's two conversions ensuring the home side a 16-12 lead at the break.
Pryce then scored his second two minutes into the second period after picking up a fine wide pass from Gray Viane.
With Castleford now missing the departed prop Danny Ward, Bradford finally responded on the hour when the hard-charging Lesley Vainikolo set up Newton's second try.
Bradford then regained the lead, after Newton's charge-down resulted in Michael Platt knocking on right in front of the posts.
Deacon scored from the resulting scrum, with the half-back also converting.
Hape's determination then seemingly put the game beyond Castleford's reach but, with the seconds ticking by, Shenton's late intervention and Craig Huby's touch line conversion ensured a share of the points.