Rugby

REPORT

Paul Deacon missed a last-gasp conversion attempt as the Castleford Tigers edged a topsy-turvy engage Super League encounter, beating the Bradford Bulls 38 points to 40 at a sun drenched Grattan Stadium, Odsal.

Ben Jeffries had crossed with seconds remaining to give the Bulls the chance to claim a draw from an entertaining but scrappy clash at the Grattan Stadium.

Castleford surrendered leads of 12-4 and 34-22 at various stages while the Bulls had been 22-12 in front at half-time.

Both sides scored seven tries but Dean Widders’ remarkable 80-metre interception score with seven minutes remaining ultimately proved decisive. Joe Westerman landed six goals for the visitors.

Castleford first went ahead after Semi Tadulala lost a Rangi Chase kick under pressure and Michael Shenton pounced.

Tadulala soon made amends after a Castleford mistake at the restart allowed the Bulls to go straight back on the attack.

Fijian winger Tadulala was on hand to finish in the corner and a good break by Chris Nero moments later almost created a chance for Terry Newton to give the Bulls the lead.

The Tigers responded strongly with a Ryan McGoldrick pass putting Chase over by the posts.

Westerman’s second conversion gave the visitors a 12-4 lead but Bradford hit back with three more tries to take a 10-point lead into the break.

Dave Halley claimed the first of them from a Paul Deacon pass after another Tigers error at a restart offered the Bulls a way back into the game.

Newton put Nick Scruton over for his first Bulls try and Halley was denied a second when another Newton pass was ruled forward.

Halley showed his defensive qualities to keep out opposing full-back Richard Owen before the Bulls finished the first half with a flourish.

Ben Jeffries found a gap in the Tigers defence and Michael Worrincy completed the attack by outpacing Shenton and Kirk Netherton to the line.

Remarkably, Bradford surrendered their position of dominance by conceding four tries within the opening 13 minutes of the second half.

The first was almost a carbon copy of the opener as Tadulala missed a Chase kick and Shenton this time set up youngster Jordan Thompson.

Tadulala missed a tackle in Castleford’s next attack and Shenton cut inside for his second.

A brilliant Halley tackle denied Mike Wainwright but the Tigers were not kept out for long as Chase sold Deacon a dummy to cross for his second.

The capitulation continued as McGoldrick sent Westerman on his way to the line with a clever pass.

The momentum shifted back in Bradford’s favour as Deacon set up Burgess and Jeffries went over from a Newton pass to level the scores at 34-34.

Widders put Cas back in front by picking off a Newton pass and sprinting most of the length of the field.

There was still time for one last twist as Halley’s break set up Jeffries but Deacon was unable to add the goal.

POST-MATCH REPORT

Castleford coach Terry Matterson was at a loss to explain his side's 40-38 win at Bradford.

"It's the most bizarre game I've ever been involved in," said Matterson.

"I don't know what to say about it, but you've just got to find a way to win."

"We've been involved in a lot of close games this year and we haven't found a way to win, so I'm really pleased with that. We needed the two points."

"We were better defensively last week and didn't get the two points.

"There are eight games to go now and it doesn't matter how you get them."

Victory lifted the Tigers into ninth, behind the last of the sides in the play-off zone only on points difference.

Matterson, with a game against under-achieving Hull next week, now hopes his side can build momentum to launch a top-eight push.

"We haven't got a problem with attacking but we've obviously got some issues with defence," Matterson added.

"That's all we need to work on this week."

Opposite number Steve McNamara felt Cas had narrowly got the better of a scrappy encounter.

The Bulls pieced together good moves for Semi Tadulala, Dave Halley, Nick Scruton, Michael Worrincy, Sam Burgess and Jeffries (two) to score but their defensive work was also disappointing.

McNamara said: "Some people may think that was an entertaining and open game but for me it was a poor standard game."

"Both sides came up with some unbelievable errors to keep gifting the opposition opportunities."

"We made an horrendous start to the first half, got ourselves together but then made an even worse start to the second half."

"We have got a lot to look at there."

"If both sides carry on playing like that, gifting that amount of possession and opportunities, neither side will go on and do much more."