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PRE-SEASON FRIENDLY
26th December | 11.30am KO

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Saints slaughter Tigers

Castleford: 12
Tries: Kirk Dixon (52), Michael Shenton (67)
Goals: Kirk Dixon (53, 67)
St. Helens : 68
Tries: Matthew Gidley (2), Sean Long (7), Lee Gilmour (16), Ade Gardner (23), Paul Clough (26),
Chris Flannery (34), Jon Wilkin (37) , Francis Meli (40, 80), James Roby (45), Paul Sculthorpe(71, 73)
Goals: Sean Long (4, 8, 17, 25, 27, 34, 39, 46), Paul Sculthorpe (71,73)

Report

In a match that Cas´ knew was going to be tough, all hell broke loose as Saints put 8 tries over the line before the first 40 was over, the Tigers struggled all over the pitch which saw them head into the break trailing by 46 points to nothing. Castleford faught back bravely in the secon half pulling back 12 points, although this was all the Tigers could do and with a further 4 tries from Superleague top team, St. Helens, the match ended with not only a crack but a valley between the two teams. Score at full time saw Daniel Anderson's St. Helens side go to the dressing rooms, with a 68-12 win over Castleford.

Scoring opened just two minutes into the match with St.Helens´ Mathew Gidley popped a try over the Castleford line which was converted shortly after by Sean Long. Another five minutes of hard play from Castleford and a mistake in defence saw Long run and score Saints´ second try of the game, which he swiftly converted adding the further two. Gilmour found the space to weave his way through for a third touchdown in the 15th minute and Gardner claimed a contender for try of the season seven minutes later when he raced 80 metres to cross the line for a stunning individual effort. Substitutes, Paul Clough and Chris Flannery were the next two to step over the try line and late attempts from Jon Wilkin (37) and Francis Meli (40) added further embarresment to the Castleford camp. Seven conversions from Sean Long, only missing Meli´s effort, saw top side Saints, into a comfortable 46 point lead over bottom sitting Castleford.

First points in the second half belonged to James Roby and the Mersyside team after just five minutes of play, however, Castleford looked to be playing a lot stronger than in the first half and five mintes later Castleford saw, Kirk Dixon fly over the line, he then converted the try to make the score, 52-6. A tired Castleford side saw another glimpse of success when Michael Shenton was able to break loose and score the Tigers´ second try of the game, 67 minutes in, a neat conversion from Dixon saw the score at 52-12, with too much to do, it seemed as though Terry Matterson´s side gave up and Saints put two last tries on the board, both in the form of Paul Sculthorpe. Sculthorpe then converted both of his own tries to make the score at full time, St.Helens 68, Castleford Tigers 12.

Tigers coach Terry Matterson admitted there was no justification for his side's first-half surrender but also credited his men for their improved second-half performance which saw Dixon and Shenton touch down.

Matterson said: "We gave away a penalty right from the kick-off and in the second minute Saints scored their first try."

"But we at least some pride in the second half and our aim now this season is to try and make sure we don't finish bottom of the table."

Report by Adam, for casforum.co.uk (With thanks to Sporting Life for Terry Matterson´s Quotes)(With thanks to Sporting Life for Terry Matterson´s Quotes)

Friday, July 11, 2008