Castleford defy Catalans fightback with late Hoy try

Betfred Super League

Castleford (18) 24

Tries: Horne (2), Miller, Hoy Goals: Milnes (4)

Catalans (6) 18

Tries: Johnstone, Ikuvalu, Mourgue Goals: Mourgue (3)

Castleford Tigers claimed their third successive Super League win as Tex Hoy's late try helped the home side defy a fierce comeback by Catalans Dragons.

The Tigers looked to be in command after two tries from Liam Horne and another from Jacob Miller put them 18-0 up but Tom Johnstone pulled one back for the Dragons before the break.

Catalans dominated the second half as Matt Ikuvalu and Arthur Mourgue tries and the latter's third impeccable touchline conversion drew them level, but Hoy capitalised on a Tom Davies error to grab the victory.

Defeat thwarted Catalans' hopes of leapfrogging St Helens into fourth place, while Cas move to within one point of ninth-placed Huddersfield.

Catalans have been building momentum with three straight wins, and the news this week that Sam Tomkins is set to come out of retirement for the rest of their campaign, starting next weekend, further buoyed their top-six hopes.

They looked like a team that had a rocky flight from Perpignan in the opening 25 minutes, making basic defensive errors and showing none of the attacking skill that helped them beat fellow play-off contenders Salford Red Devils 20-0 last week.

Dragons storm back

Morgue was the first culprit, watching as a Rowan Milnes' high kick rolled towards the dead-ball line, only for Horne to dash in and touch it down.

When Cesar Rouge missed a tackle on Innes Senior, the wing sped away down the left flank and timed his inside pass to Jacob Miller perfectly for Castleford's second try, and the Tigers seemed in control.

That was underlined as Tariq Sims had the ball knocked from his grasp by Elie Al-Zekhem when he seemed certain to score, and Cas went up the other end for Horne to finish after Cain Robb had impishly ducked under two would-be tacklers.

Catalans roused themselves and claimed their first try as Johnstone leapt high and then did well to ground the ball as he fell awkwardly over the line. When he attempted a repeat effort just before the half-time whistle, he damaged a knee and had to be helped from the field, a severe blow to the French side.

The visitors were reinvigorated after the break when Ikuvalu expertly finished a sharp passing move, and they levelled the score after Mourgue twisted his way over after a Robb knock-on had gifted Catalans possession.

With Mourgue kicking brilliantly, the game seemed to be up for Cas but when Davies came up with an error, the Tigers pounced. Hoy spotted a gap in a flagging defence and raced through to set up a nervy, backs-to-the wall finish for the home side.

Castleford Tigers players celebrate Tex Hoy's late match-winning try against Catalan Dragons

Post-match reaction

Castleford coach Craig Lingard told BBC Radio West Yorkshire:

“It was a bit tight towards the end of the game. You try to keep composed, but they scrambled really well in the last five minutes to prevent tries, and get the victory.

“The most pleasing thing, although we got back to 18 apiece from being pretty much in the ascendancy, to see the game out was a real turning point for us.

“In the past we’ve conceded points, and you’d have thought Catalans were favourites to win the game as they were kicking on in the last 15 to 20 minutes.

"The way we responded to that and got better as the game went on was testament to the hard work they have done in the last six or seven weeks.

“At the start of the season the perception of us was that we might start well and score a couple of tries, but if you go set for set we’ll eventually crack, the dam will burst, and it will be try after try after try, and that’s what happened in some games.

“We needed to change that narrative and how we saw ourselves.”

Catalans coach Steve McNamara said:

“It’s a poor start from us going 18-0 down, it’s unlike us. We’ve had good starts from the majority of the season and to be 18-0 down is poor.

“We fought ourselves back to 18-all which was good but the last 12 minutes we were terrible and blew a game we should’ve won in the last 10 minutes.

“If you give yourselves a mountain to climb and the opposition a start like that, they get enthusiastic about it so you always make it hard for yourself.

"It is unacceptable how we finished the game given we got ourselves back in the position [to win it].”

Castleford: Hoy, Qareqare, Hall, Mellor, Senior, Milnes, Miller, Griffin, Horne, Mustapha, Lawler, El-Zakhem, Westerman.

Interchanges: Watts, Namo, Robb, Johnson.

Catalans: Mourgue, Davies, Romano, Ikuvalu, Johnstone, Rouge, Abdull, Navarete, McIlorum, Bousquet, Sims, Seguier, Garcia.

Interchanges: Da Costa, Satae, Dezaria, Aispuro-Bichet.

Referee: Marcus Griffiths.