Castleford defy Catalans fightback with late Hoy try

Betfred Super League

Castleford (18) 24

Tries: Horne (2), Miller, Hoy Goals: Milnes (4)

Catalans (6) 18

Tries: Johnstone, Ikuvalu, Mourgue Goals: Mourgue (3)

Castleford Tigers claimed their 3rd successive Super League triumph arsenic Tex Hoy's precocious effort helped nan location broadside defy a fierce comeback by Catalans Dragons.

The Tigers looked to beryllium successful bid aft 2 tries from Liam Horne and different from Jacob Miller put them 18-0 up but Tom Johnstone pulled 1 backmost for nan Dragons earlier nan break.

Catalans dominated nan 2nd half arsenic Matt Ikuvalu and Arthur Mourgue tries and nan latter's 3rd impeccable touchline conversion drew them level, but Hoy capitalised connected a Tom Davies correction to drawback nan victory.

Defeat thwarted Catalans' hopes of leapfrogging St Helens into 4th place, while Cas move to wrong 1 constituent of ninth-placed Huddersfield.

Catalans person been building momentum pinch 3 consecutive wins, and nan news this week that Sam Tomkins is group to travel retired of retirement for nan remainder of their campaign, starting adjacent weekend, further buoyed their top-six hopes.

They looked for illustration a squad that had a rocky formation from Perpignan successful nan opening 25 minutes, making basal protect errors and showing nary of nan attacking accomplishment that helped them hit chap play-off contenders Salford Red Devils 20-0 past week.

Morgue was nan first culprit, watching arsenic a Rowan Milnes' precocious footwear rolled towards nan dead-ball line, only for Horne to dash successful and touch it down.

When Cesar Rouge missed a tackle connected Innes Senior, nan helping sped distant down nan near flank and timed his wrong walk to Jacob Miller perfectly for Castleford's 2nd try, and nan Tigers seemed successful control.

That was underlined arsenic Tariq Sims had nan shot knocked from his grasp by Elie Al-Zekhem erstwhile he seemed definite to score, and Cas went up nan different extremity for Horne to decorativeness aft Cain Robb had impishly ducked nether 2 would-be tacklers.

Catalans roused themselves and claimed their first effort arsenic Johnstone leapt precocious and past did good to crushed nan shot arsenic he fell awkwardly complete nan line. When he attempted a repetition effort conscionable earlier nan half-time whistle, he damaged a knee and had to beryllium helped from nan field, a terrible rustle to nan French side.

The visitors were reinvigorated aft nan break erstwhile Ikuvalu expertly vanished a crisp passing move, and they levelled nan people aft Mourgue twisted his measurement complete aft a Robb knock-on had talented Catalans possession.

With Mourgue kicking brilliantly, nan crippled seemed to beryllium up for Cas but erstwhile Davies came up pinch an error, nan Tigers pounced. Hoy spotted a spread successful a flagging defence and raced done to group up a nervy, backs-to-the wall decorativeness for nan location side.

Castleford: Hoy, Qareqare, Hall, Mellor, Senior, Milnes, Miller, Griffin, Horne, Mustapha, Lawler, El-Zakhem, Westerman.

Interchanges: Watts, Namo, Robb, Johnson.

Catalans: Mourgue, Davies, Romano, Ikuvalu, Johnstone, Rouge, Abdull, Navarete, McIlorum, Bousquet, Sims, Seguier, Garcia.

Interchanges: Da Costa, Satae, Dezaria, Aispuro-Bichet.

Referee: Marcus Griffiths.