Leigh boost play-off hopes as they beat Castleford

Betfred Super League

Castleford (4) 10

Tries: Rooney, Westerman Goals: Milnes

Leigh (8) 20

Tries: Hardaker, Charnley 2, Ipape Goals: Hardaker 2

Leigh Leopards boosted their Super League play-off hopes as they edged out Castleford Tigers for a well-earned win.

Fletcher Rooney and Zak Hardaker exchanged unconverted tries in an open first half with Josh Charnley crossing to send Leigh ahead on the half-hour mark.

Edwin Ipape ran the length of the field to add to Leigh's tally soon after the break, followed swiftly by Charnley racing in for his second of the evening.

Joe Westerman clawed Castleford back to within 10 points but the hosts could not find a further response.

Leigh Leopards have now won their past four games in a row

Leigh's victory, combined with Huddersfield's defeat at Wigan, shores up eighth place for Adrian Lam's side, however Castleford remain 10th following a 13th league defeat of the campaign.

Rooney went in for his first senior try just three minutes into the match but Rowan Milnes failed to add the extras.

Leigh took their time but were level as Hardaker went in at the corner, but Darnell McIntosh hit the post with the boot in a finely poised first half.

Charnley touched down 10 minutes before half-time, with his try eventually given on review having been waved away on-field, but McIntosh sent his kick wide of the mark to leave the door open for Cas on the restart.

Tex Hoy thought he had found a way through early on for the hosts moments after the restart but replays showed he was held up and just a minute later Ipape sprinted in with a lung-busting cross-field run after he charged down Jacob Miller's kick.

An unmarked Charnley worked onto Lachlan Lam's delivery to dot down for his second of the evening as Leigh began to take control.

Westerman's well-worked score restored some pride for the hosts but it was too little too late as Leigh held on for the win.

Castleford Tigers head coach Craig Lingard told BBC Radio Leeds:

"It's a potential one that got away, really. I thought we started really well and really positive and we executed what we wanted to do.

"We got a try on the board which was really pleasing using the shape we'd been through in the week. But as the half wore on, particularly the last 10 or 15 minutes of the first half, a few errors crept into our game.

"There was a big momentum swing in the second half with Tex (Hoy) being held up and then 30-40 seconds later we were stood behind the sticks with another try from a kick."

Leigh Leopards boss Adrian Lam told BBC Radio Manchester:

"It's a difficult place to come here and win and we knew the challenge ahead of us. We had late pull-outs which was always going to make things difficult.

"It wasn't perfect tonight but we got a result we deserved so I'm pleased and proud of the group.

"When you put things into context with players playing out of position or coming into the group late, we just needed to get the two points and get out of here to be honest."

Castleford: Hoy; Rooney, Hall, Mellor, I Senior; Milnes, Miller; Mustapha, Lawler, Westerman, El-Zakhem, Johnson, Hill.

Interchanges: Watts, Namo, Robb, Hindmarsh.

Leigh: Hardaker; McIntosh, Hanley, Leutele, Charnley; Hughes, Lam; Trout, Ipape, Mulhern, O'Donnell, Halton, Asiata.

Interchanges: Norman, Dwyer, Pene, Brogan.

Referee: Marcus Griffiths