Castleford Tigers 35

Saints 16 REPORT by Denis Whittle SAINTS' top-four hopes hang by a thread and Castleford's relegation fears were greatly eased after this story of contrasting halves on Sunday night.

For, after trailing 16-6 with 30 minutes gone, a gritty Saints' side lacking Bobbie Goulding and Alan Hunte hauled themselves back into contention with a 10-point scoring burst to draw level by the interval.

Sadly they then fell away, with the tough-tackling slick-handling Tigers taking command to score 19 unanswered points in the second 40 minutes against a visitors' squad that tired visibly in the torrid heat.

Therein, perhaps, lies a clue to Saints' slump. For they were playing their third game in seven days while Cas had enjoyed a nine-day break which - remembering the crucial issues at stake - meant they lacked nothing in motivation or the stamina to stay the course for 80 minutes.

And, as is so often the case with a club beset with off-field problems, Saints did not enjoy the best of luck on-field.

None of this is intended to detract one iota from a thoroughly deserved success by a reborn Cas who have battled mightily against the dreaded drop. But, having entered the plea of mitigation on Saints' behalf, it also has to be said that the old chestnuts of dropped passes and lack of support work were once again evident in the second half.

Non-stop Sean Long was Saints' outstanding player followed closely by Vila Matautia, while Andy Northey, Derek McVey, Ian Pickavance, Keiron Cunningham and two-try Andy Haigh were also often seen to advantage in Saints' ranks.

High-speed Cas were away to a flyer within three minutes when, after Mike Ford cross-kicked to the corner, Chris Smith outjumped Joey Hayes to score under the posts, with man-of-the-match Brad Davies landing the first of seven goals from as many attempts.

Davies then added a penalty when Lee Harland was fouled but, from the restart, Karle Hammond raced through to send Paul Newlove powering in from 40 yards for Long to convert, and Saints might well have snatched the lead if Newlove's pass to Chris Joynt had not been ruled forward by referee David Campbell.

However, the Tigers forged further ahead when block-busting Dean Sampson put Jason Lidden over for another six-pointer, while the unerring boot of Davies tacked on a second penalty to give Castleford a 10-point cushion, only for Saints to hit back with two tries by Haigh, the first created by Matautia and the second by Long and Danny Arnold.

Disaster struck for Saints on the resumption when the linking Jason Flowers sent ex-Blackbrook star Jason Critchley through a defence pre-occupied by suggestions of 'shepherding,' but the score stood as Saints' fought to get back on terms.

The issue was beginning to slip away from Saints when that man Davies chipped to the corner for Richard Gay to plunge over, kick the touchline goal and then, for good measure, land a snap drop goal to leave the visitors trailing 29-16 before being substituted. Davies' replacement Danny Orr added the third Castleford penalty goal and Saints' cup of woe was overflowing when, Ford's chip-through rebounded off Sullivan for Critchley to joyfully accept a gift try.

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