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Posted: Thursday 22nd October 2020

Eden hat-trick lifts Tigers' spirits

Greg Eden scored a hat-trick as Castleford picked up a valuable Betfred Super League win over Hull Kingston Rovers.

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It wasn’t pretty at times but the Tigers came up with enough pieces of magic at crucial times to seal a comfortable win in the end on a night that saw the club hand first team debuts to full back Bailey Hodgson and prop Brad Martin, whilst young front rower Lewis Peachey played just his third senior game as head coach Daryl Powell used the limited rotation options at his disposal for his side’s second game in five days.

With Jacques O’Neill also starting the game at hooker as Paul McShane switched to the halves, there was a youthful look to several positions for the Tigers, but in the end if was the performances of several senior figures that saw them fend off a Rovers comeback to take the spoils.

With confidence low after recent defeats, the Tigers needed a bright start at the Totally Wicked Stadium – a ground where they had a terrible record going into the game – and they got it as they raced into a 24-point lead inside the opening 25 minutes despite losing Nathan Massey to a rib injury early on.

O’Neill got his side quickly into their stride with his second try in two matches after capitalising on a strong run from back rower Junior Moors early on, before Alex Foster reacted quickest to Mike McMeeken’s offload to chip ahead for the score to make it back-to-back tries shortly afterwards.

Cas looked dangerous every time they had the ball and Adam Milner was the next over as he showed some great footwork and then deceptive power to beat a couple of defenders and crash over under the posts, before winger Greg Eden marked his return to the side with a trademark try, sniffing out an opportunity as Rovers looked to shift the ball inside their own half and snaffling a loose offload to race 40 metres for the score.

The Fords looked in complete control at this stage but lost some shape when O’Neill succumbed to a hyperextended knee and KR hit back with three tries in quick succession of their own as Robbie Mulhern, Elliot Minchella and Shaun Kenny-Dowall took advantage of some poor discipline from the Tigers to turn a long spell of possession into points, although Danny Richardson notched a penalty to grab his fifth goal of the first half on the hooter to at least ensure his side took a two-score advantage into the break at 26-18.

Playing their second game in five days, the Tigers had tired towards the end of the first half but the break gave them an opportunity to freshen their legs. They were quickly out of the blocks again to score the try of the night as Derrell Olpherts took a kick on his try line before breaking up the right wing to start a wonderful set. The next tackle saw Michael Shenton break down into the Rovers’ red zone with a mazy run and Cas finished off the opportunity when McShane’s run-around created the space for Eden to finish for his second of the night.

Another Richardson goal creating daylight between the sides and once again the Fords looked in control but they couldn’t make the most of a couple of half chances that came their way. The loss of Martin – who had impressed on his first senior run out – took a third forward out of Cas’ interchange and Matt Parcell took advantage of some weary bodies on the next set to find a gap through the middle.

However, the Tigers steadied the ship and repeated their set move as Eden completed his hat-trick via McShane’s cut-out pass and Richardson slotted a penalty on the final whistle to seal the spoils.

 

Full Time: Castleford Tigers 38-24 Hull KR

 

Castleford Tigers

Hodgson, Olpherts, Blair, Shenton, Eden, McShane, Richardson, Smith, O’Neill, Massey, Moors, McMeeken, Milner

Interchange                                       

Martin, Sene-Lefao, Foster, Peachey

Tries: Eden (3), O’Neill, Foster, Milner

Conversions: Richardson (5/6)

Penalty: Richardson (2/2)

Hull KR

Dagger, Crooks, Kenny-Dowall, Linnett, Rawsthorne, Abdull, Milnes, Lawler, Parcell, Maher, Hauraki, Hadley, Minchella

Interchange

Mulhern, Lewis, Gee, King

Tries: Mulhern, Minchella, Kenny-Dowall, Parcell

Conversions: Dagger (4/4) 

 

*Match report by Matt Holden

**Photography by SWPix

 

To mark tonight's win, we're offering fans an extra 10% off Tigers retail in store and online. SEE HERE for more details!