Match Report

Teams

Match Official: I.Smith
Venue: The Jungle, Wheldon Road
Att: 8,067

Castleford looked to be the better side when they took on Bradford Bulls last night,   The Tigers, despite a hat-trick from Bradford's winger, Semi Tadulala, looked to be in control for most of the game. 

Cas' dominated the first half, producing a strong response after falling behind, after just two minutes, to a Tadulala try on the sidelines, created by Paul Deacon's excellent run.  Deacon added the conversion but the Tigers roared back just four minutes later as Stuart Donlan found space and sent young winger Richard Owen over with a superb half-field pass.

Castleford went close again only for referee, Ian Smith, to call Ned Catic's blatant try a knock on but the Bulls failed to see this as warning Kirk Dixon claimed an awesome try after Luke Dorn, who leaves the Tigers this week set for Harlequins, had passed outside to Michael Wainwright and he in turn had fired back inside to his centre.  A clear and easy conversion from Dixon and added a penalty soon afterwards left the Tigers ahead.

The Bulls fired-up and levelled the scores on the half-time hooter as Semi Tadulala went over for his second try of the match, again in the corner.

The Bulls forced successive drop-outs but Cas held firm as they waited patiently for their own opportunities and they came in the form Ryan Boyle, a fantastic bit of play saw Andrew Henderson forcing his way forward and sending Boyle under posts for another Dixon-converted try.

Fiji born, Semi Tadulala, had that look in his eye again and when Chris Nero worked the ball to him with 10 minutes remaining he made no mistake as he cut inside to score his hat-track.

Timeline

2 Bradford Try by Semi Tadulala
4 Bradford Goal by Paul Deacon
6 Castleford Try by Richard Owen
7 Castleford Goal missed by Kirk Dixon
19 Castleford Try by Kirk Dixon
20 Castleford Goal missed by Kirk Dixon
29 Castleford Goal by Kirk Dixon
40 Bradford Try by Semi Tadulala
40 Bradford Goal missed by Paul Deacon
62 Castleford Try by Ryan Boyle
63 Castleford Goal by Kirk Dixon
71 Bradford Try by Semi Tadulala
72 Bradford Goal by Iestyn Harris
80 Castleford Dismissal: Ned Catic
80 Bradford Goal by Iestyn Harris