Tigers fall to pieces in Wales

Report by Daniel Kemp

Castleford: (6) 16
Tries: Owen, Westerman, Shenton
Goals: Dixon 2

Wakefield: (24) 54
Tries: Watene, Obst, Grix 3, Moore, Blanch 2, Atkins.
Goals: Brough 9

Fans of the Tigers were left contemplating their affinity with the club after yet another below-par, and to summarise somewhat shambolic and disgraceful performance, in the annual showpiece Millennium Magic event in Cardiff.

Danny Brough was the star man for the Wildcats, while the Tigers lost four players to injury throughout various periods of the games.

And it was the little Genius who got the scoreboard ticking after 5 minutes when he slotted over a simple penalty, one of ten that the tigers conceded on a day where they didn’t bother trying to help themselves.

The first try showed how the game would turn out, a silly error in his own red zone from Kirk Dixon allowed Obst to feed another former tiger Adam Watene a simple short ball to take on 3 players and then spin away over the line, the Tigers players more intent on stroking him than putting him to the floor, Brough goaled to give the wildcats a 8-0 lead after 12 minutes.

The Tigers weren’t out of it though, well not yet, When Duncan MacGillvray took on the Tigers’ defence he offloaded with a sublime ball to Tony martin who had support from Jamie Rooney on the inside, Rooney only stopped by a great try saving tackle by Michael Shenton after his team mates efforts were nothing short of laughable. Shenton had only prevented the inevitable though when the superb Sam Obst burrowed over from close rang as the tigers defence let him through again. Brough goaled again to leave the scores at 14-0 after just 15 minutes and things were only going to get worse.

The Maestro then took over again in the next set, an inch perfect 40-20 kick from Brough gave the wildcats great field position and it wasn’t long until Obst fed Brough who passed the ball on to Richard Moore who had a great game and he threw a flat 20 yard ball out to Scott Grix who went in at the corner for the first of his three tries, Brough’s touchline conversion hit the post but the tigers players and fans heads had dropped and Wakefield were in no mood for letting up. 18-0

Then the Tigers players thought they would join the fans and admire Danny Broughs brilliance, He stepped 3 defenders and ran straight through Mcgoldricks embarrassing effort of a tackle to rip the Tigers straight up the middle and find half back partner Rooney who fed the ball out wide to the great Richard Moore to get a try in the corner which was nothing less than he deserved, This time Brough landed the touchline effort and at 24-0 it was game set and match and the Tigers had thrown in the towel. There cause wasn’t helped when star man Brent Sherwin left the field shortly after not to return and they later lost Guttenbeil and 2 more players through injury in what was a bad day for Castleford Tigers.

The Tigers were on a mission to try and stop the Wildcats hitting 50 it seemed, and to get themselves on the scoreboard, and both looked possibly as the tigers held Wakefield out for the rest of the half and managed to squeeze in for a try 5 minutes before the break. This try came after 35 minutes of clueless attack from the halves, the first 20 minutes where they didn’t see the ball and then once Sherwin went off the halves couldn’t have created a fight back if there careers depended on it. The tigers try did come from Richard Owen in the corner, the video referee was needed but the Tigers youngster had clearly got the ball down before hitting the flag. Mcgoldrick had moved into dummy half and the quick play of the ball allowed him to feed Dixon who’s fantastic hands released the youngster Owen and then Dixon landed a great conversion to make the scores 24-6 at the break, but the Castleford fans were already wishing they hadn’t made the trip down.

The Wakefield fans on the other hand were fantastic, they travelled down in great numbers and were all seated together and really got behind there team and I am sure they enjoyed the day and night that followed.

So how do the Tigers start the second half, missing both vice captains through injury and options on the bench now limited, they couldn’t stop the Wakefield onslaught. Danny Brough was involved again, he sent a huge bomb up in the air and when fullback Mcgoldrick allowed the ball to bounce it was 50/50 as to who would come up with the ball, the answer was Scott Grix for his second of the game, Maybe the Tigers should stick to using a fullback who can actually catch a ball and make a tackle and then the scores might not be so severe next time they have an off day. The little number 7 goaled again to make the score 30-6 after 44 minutes.

The Tigers showed signs they weren’t going to lie down though and 5 minutes later the Video Ref ruled out a Ned Catic effort who tried very hard on debut, but that only delayed the try as two minutes later when Joe Westerman who wasn’t having a good day at the office managed to force his way over the line and when Kirk Dixon goaled there was a slight chance for Cas, but only if they could score the next try.

This wasn’t going to happen when Mcgoldrick tried to spread the ball wide, his pass hit the deck and was claimed by another former Tiger Damian blanch who had a clear run to the line, Mcgoldrick was having his worst game in a Tigers shirt, this just 4 days after signing a new 4 year deal. Danny Brough again converted the extras and 36-12 after 53 minutes things were not looking good for Castleford, meanwhile the Wakefield fans were loving the great magic weekend.

Wakefield didn’t have to wait long for another try either, 3 minutes later fantastic work from Brough and a superb offload from Oliver Wilkes led to Grix completing a Hat-Trick, 3 players there who could all have been at the Tigers this year, Of course Brough goaled again and his Man of the Match award was already secure again. The we want 50 chants were ringing out and the Tigers fans had there heads in there hands, the couldn’t believe this was the same side that has beaten both of last years Grand Finalists, and they were been embarrassed on the biggest stage of all.

When Michael Shenton forced his way over on the left hand side after 64 minutes there wasn’t even a celebration, The game was gone and credit to the Castleford team for plugging on but the Discipline and Defence were the 2 areas that need some severe work in training, oh and of course fitness as the Tigers looked part time. Kirk Dixon failed to land the conversion from out wide and the scores remained at 42-16.

It took the Wildcats a further 11 minutes for there next score, thanks to the video ref ruling out what seemed a perfectly fine individual chip and chase from Danny Brough for obstruction in the build up. Another loose ball though allowed Ryan Atkins to race away and score on 75 minutes and Brough goaled to bring the scores to 48-16, Could the Tigers stop the 50, of course they couldn’t.

What a surprise as well, the creator of the try was that man again, Danny Brough who sent out a long ball wide to Damian Blanch to score in the corner with Brough adding the 2 to take his personal tally to 18, not bad for a player who is rated as not very good by a certain member of the Castleford staff.

The superlatives are been thrown around for Brough at the minute and I wouldn’t argue with them one bit, The best 7 in the competition, Man of Steel why not, He is outperforming every other player in the league at the minute and as Wakefield to continue to get players back from injury he will only improve with the team.

Terry Matterson said afterwards “I’m really disappointed for our fans, and for all the other fans of the other clubs, because they deserved a better showing than that. That was as bad as it has been for us. There is no excuse for what happened in the second half. We gave ourselves a big mountain to climb, but there wasn’t any fight, and that’s the most disappointing thing. We lost some guys through injury, but that wasn’t the reason. Wakefield we’re hungrier. They were faster and did everything better than us. We couldn’t even catch or pass a ball at the end. It was diabolical. For the majority of the year we have made teams work for their wins, but that was a total capitulation. It’s hard for me to say it but we gave up”

There was one word there that summed it up, diabolical and for the fans who have travelled over 3000 miles in 3 weeks, like myself only to witness 2 horror shows and an average performance in France its hard to take, and the fans are beginning to want answers from the club, Something isn’t right at the Jungle and until the finger is put on it, then many more drubbings are on the way.

Wakefield Coach John Kear was more upbeat “ I felt we’ve been building to a performance like this for a number of weeks, the pleasing thing is that the players played as though they’re enjoying their rugby league. They played with a smile on their face”

And when asked about the form of his superstar ex Tiger he said” Danny Broughs form is excellent. The most pleasing thing is we’ve lost Brad Drew and Jason Demetriou but him, Jamie Rooney, Sam Obst and Tevita Leo Latu have really stood up to the mark as really good leaders”

Monday, May 5, 2008

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