Tigers U19s claim Bulls win

The Tigers began the game strongly after a brilliant run from Louis Collinson got them up the field. The set finished with Adam Rusling chipping into the corner but the ball was slapped out of play by the visitors.

The hosts looked to have scored the first try of the game after a Rusling kick was collect by Collinson who went over. Unfortunately for Cas, the referee called for an offside in the play.

After soaking up some early Cas attacking play, Bradford then began forcing the issue. They made the most of it by getting the opening score as Joe Kellett crashed over from close in. Harry Gray couldn’t find the target with his conversion.

Just over five minutes later the Fords levelled the scores. A beautiful flowing passing move from the right side of the field to the left found Callum Hutchinson in space to dive over in the corner. Rusling wasn’t able to add the two points from the tee.

Rusling was starting to pull the strings with his right boot as he kept putting the pressure on the visitors with kicks in behind on the last tackle.

With ten minutes left before the break Cas got themselves in front. Jack Sadler broke through the line brilliantly to set the Tigers up inside the Bradford ten metre line. Cain Robb got onto the ball quickly and flung a pass out wide to release Mackenzie Scurr on the touchline to skid over. Rusling missed from the tee to keep the scores at 8-4. 

The hosts kept the pressure on the Bulls for the remaining few minutes of the half but the visitors managed to hold out.

Seconds into the second half the Tigers looked to be in for another score. Some quick thinking from Robb as he stepped brilliantly away from a couple of defenders. He passed to Sadler but the scrum-half was challenged by a great recovering tackle and knocked on.

They then found the finishing touch after an incredible offload out the back of the hand from Nathan Magee allowed Josh Milthorpe to dive over from a few metres out. Rusling was successful from the tee to extend the Cas lead to 14-4

Bradford tried to respond and their best effort came down the right hand side. Jacob Campbell passed wide to Jayden Myers on the last, the centre charged forward and made up some good ground but was stopped before the line.

The Bulls were having a strong spell as Myers made a dig for the line before Rian Rowley tried his luck but the Cas defence held out.

After getting through some defensive work Cas added a fourth try. The Tigers kept the Bulls penned in with some accurate attacking play and it was interchange Phoenix Tooala who cut inside to go over. Rusling added the two points.

Scurr thought he had got his second of the night when he cut inside from out wide to go over but the referee judged that there was a forward pass beforehand.

The wing wasn’t to be denied though as with five minutes to go he secured his brace. Rusling launched a pass to the right, it skidded off the turf and Scurr did well to collect it and stretch out an arm to score. Rusling hooked his conversion but the young Tigers claimed the victory to make it four wins from four to start the season.

Castleford Tigers U19s 24-4 Bradford Bulls U19s

Castleford: Harris, Scurr, Hazelgrave, Milthorpe, Hutchinson, Rusling, Sadler, Harte, Robb, Buffett, Magee, Atley, Collinson 

Interchanges: Tooala, Donnelley, Ransome, Robson

Tries: Hutchinson, Scurr x2, Milthorpe, Tooala

Conversions: Rusling (2/5)