Daryl Powell, the Castleford Tigers head coach, set his sights on stealing the League Leaders’ Shield from St Helens’ grasp after his side moved to within four points of the leaders with a 32-18 win over Bradford Bulls yesterday.
Castleford were not at their free-flowing best, understandably so given their Challenge Cup final heartbreak last weekend, but they got the job done to remain in the hunt to finish top of the First Utility Super League.
Castleford gave themselves a fighting chance thanks to tries from Andy Lynch, James Clare, Luke Dorn, Michael Shenton and Daryl Clark, a superb solo effort which eased the home side’s nerves after Lee Gaskell’s hat-trick had brought Bradford to within six points. Powell was pleased with his side’s character and turned his attention to chasing down St Helens.
“It was always going to be tough to get back up after a Challenge Cup final, especially after a loss, and it took some responding to,” Powell said. “It was paramount that we won the game and we did that.
“It was pretty hot out there today and probably the mental exertions as well as the physical ones took some dealing with. The courage and character of the players was superb. We’ve been to a final and have got an opportunity in front of us now. Wakefield are a dangerous animal and then it’s Catalan away, so we’ve got a pretty tough finish. We’ve given ourselves a great opportunity.”
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James Lowes, head coach of a Bradford team already condemned to relegation, could not hide his disappointment after his side failed to make it four wins a row. “We were very poor in the first half,” he said. “Everything about us was poor — slow passes, slow movement, we were soft in defence.”
James Webster, the Wakefield Wildcats head coach, is hoping a permanent deal for Tim Smith can be tied up after the scrum half helped to destroy Salford Red Devils, his parent club, to keep alive the Wildcats’ slender play-off hopes.
The Australian, who joined Wakefield on loan in June, was allowed to line up against them and had a hand in five of his side’s eight tries to condemn Salford to a 42-6 defeat and end their top-eight bid. “Tim was outstanding,” Webster said. “He is the heart and soul of our side. We did some good business by getting Tim when we did and hopefully that can continue.”