All square at the Jungle

Luke Hooley got us underway to begin the friendly as he kicked towards the railway end. 

Safe hands from our backs and a penalty gave Cas possession in the London half.

Another six again given for holding down on Joe Westerman allowed the Tigers to score the first points of the day 3 minutes in as Sam Wood crashed over. Danny Richardson on his return added the two points for the Tigers.

A short pass from Miller to Wood put Cas on the front foot, a great kick from Miller then found touch to finish the set. 

A big collision came from George Griffin but a head knock saw him replaced by Sam Hall. 

London then looked to pin the Tigers but a high shot on Hooley marched Cas up the pitch again.

 Miller shaped left and found Hooley but the Broncos defence held strong. A charge down followed by Paul McShane allowing the Tigers to attack again.

Intelligent play from Miller added to the Cas pressure as a grubber kick trapped Boafo in his own goal linen forcing a drop out.

Qareqare found space on the wing beating multiple players however a late offload was given forward by the referee. Cas didn’t help themselves as a high tackle put the Broncos into good ball territory.

London got their first points on the board as a smart kick was grounded by former Tiger Robbie Storey 14 minutes in. Conversion by Leyland sailed over to equal the scores.

Qareqare catches the high ball and a strong carry put the Tigers on the front foot. Six again called against London allowed the Tigers to shift the ball wide however a knock on from Wood handed London the ball back 10 metres from their line.

Poor discipline from Cas again marched London into dangerous territory but an error from Leyland handed Cas the ball back.

    Brad Martin replaced Samy Kibula as the Tigers were attacking but an error from Simm allowed London to attack once more.

Jordan Williams made a dash for the line but a superb effort from Hooley stopped him from going over and taking the lead.

An excellent carry from PNG international Nixon Putt set the plaform as Cas try crash over, a penalty for a high tackle again given giving Cas an opportunity to score.

Quality from Jacob Miller then followed with a great pass finding Innes Senior who crashed over to take the lead once again. Danny Richardson looked to convert from the left touchline but the ball just sailed wide.

Paul McShane 28 minutes in attempted a 40/20 but winger Gideon Boafo stopped the ball in his tracks, coming out of yardage the Tigers middles force the error with strong contact. 

A triple substitution saw Liam Horne, Rowan Milnes and Albert Vete enter the field.

The Broncos had a chance of their own on the right edge as Boafo leaped for the corner, but he was matched by multiple Tigers defenders.

Rowan Milnes found touch with 4 minutes to play in the first half, but a knock down gave London the ball.

London then had another break of their own but poor discipline saw Oliver Leyland leave the field after a high shot on Qareqare.

Liam Horne broke quickly through the line putting Cas within 10 metres, Jacob Miller, Luke Hooley and Innes Senior combined again as Senior crashed over for his second of the afternoon. Hooley failed to convert from the left touchline as the ball landed just short of the posts.

The first half ended with Cas in front with a 14-6 lead.

London got us back underway but after 30 seconds Cas receive another penalty.

Cas looked to thrive off the field position but a short pass from Vete to Martin was given forward, handing possession to the Broncos.

Jacob Miller conceded Cas’ first penalty of the half 3 minutes in for a ball steal, Bienek barged through the line knocking Martin over in the process but smart play from Hooley saw him intercept the pass.

A high kick from Hooley gave Macani a few issues but the winger gathered the ball.

Another high kick finished the set for the Tigers but a high shot from Horne on Rourke see’s him go off for 10 minutes.

Off the cuff play from London saw Oliver Leyland crash over after returning from the Sin bin 8 minutes into the second half. Conversion from fullback Josh Rourke was then unsuccessful. 

George Hill then entered the field in the loose forward position, pressure from the Tigers followed when a dummy from Luis Johnson saw him burst through the line but a forward pass gave Broncos the ball.

The Broncos attack didn’t last long though as an error gave Cas a scrum in the middle of the field.

George Hill’s first involvement saw him break through line off a Joe Westerman pass but Josh Rourke was their to spoil the show for the Tigers.

Youngster Fletcher Rooney came on 57 minutes in to make his home debut at fullback, one to remember for the Tigers scholarship product.

Emmanuel Waine caused issue for the Tigers as another strong carry saw him knock George Hill over as London entered the Tigers half.

The Tigers were hoping to ship wide and cause problems, but another error gave London the ball back. This then led to Oliver Leyland finding Hakim Miloudi with a short kick into the corner. A missed conversion left the scores level with 20 minutes to play.

Paul McShane looked to get our boys underway again, but his kick flew dead in goal gifting the Broncos a penalty on the halfway line. The London attack was matched by strong defence forcing the knock on out wide.

Cas tried to take the lead via Joe Westerman but a knock on from the Co-Captain left the scores level.

Good defence from Cas kept the scores even once again.

A close call as a grubber from McShane trickled into the in-goal area but Macani was there kick it dead.

A short pass gave Cas fans a glimpse of hope as Tasipale barged over but the cheers didn’t faze the referee as he gave held up.

A great catch from Fletcher Rooney put Cas in a good area to play with the ball, a good kick finished the set in the London corner.

Oliver Leyland made a 50-metre break with 5 minutes to go but the referee calls it back for a ball steal.

A great chance for the Tigers quickly followed as an offload from Tasipale hit the floor just metres away from the try line, a huge chance went begging.

The referee then blew the final whistle of the match concluding a great contest between the two sides.

Castleford Tigers 14 - 14 London Broncos

Castleford Tigers: Luke Hooley, Jason Qareqare, Josh Simm, Sam Wood, Innes Senior, Danny Richardson, Jacob Miller, George Griffin, Paul McShane, Samy Kibula, Charbel Tasipale, Nixon Putt, Joe Westerman

Interchanges: Elie El Zakhem, Rowan Milnes, Liam Horne, Sam Hall, Cain Robb, Brad Martin, Albert Vete, George Hill, Luis Johnson, Fletcher Rooney

Tries: Senior x2, Wood

Conversions: Richardson

Sin Bin: Horne

London Broncos: Josh Rourke, Gideon Boafo, Robbie Storey, Hakim Miloudi, Illies Macani, Oliver Leyland, James Meadows, Lewis Bienek, Bill Leyland, Rob Butler, Will Lovell, Emmanuel Waine, Dean Parata

Interchanges: Matt Davies, Marcus Stock, Jordan Williams, Jack Hughes, Jensen Monk, Lee Kershaw

Tries: Storey, Leyland, Miloudi

Conversions: Leyland

Sin Bin: Leyland

Attendence: 2069