Super League match review: Castleford Tigers 64-18 London Broncos
Scoreboard
Castleford Tigers 64
Tries: Justin Carney 3, Luke Dorn 2, Kirk Dixon 2, Scott Wheeldon, Michael Shenton, Gareth Carvell, Frankie Mariano, Adam Milner
Goals: Marc Sneyd 8
Field Goals: nil
London Broncos 18
Tries: Olsi Krasniqi, Erjon Dollapi, Mike McMeeken
Goals: Josh Drinkwater 3
Field Goals: nil
Match Review
Castleford ran in twelve tries in a thumping victory over already relegated London to move to within two points of table-topping St Helens.
Justin Carney grabbed three tries in ten first half minutes to help Cas move level on points with Wigan and Leeds in the Super League table.
The Tigers had the first try scoring opportunity of the match, with Ashley Gibson being forced into touch before grounding the ball in the right-hand corner. It was the Broncos, however, who struck first, Olsi Krasniqi went over under the posts to the delight of the travelling fans, Josh Drinkwater added the extras to give the visitors a surprise lead.
The hosts hit back almost immediately, Kirk Dixon defused a bomb in goal and his quick twenty metre restart caught London out, the winger gave the ball to former Bronco Luke Dorn who raced seventy metres to touch down. London refused to roll over, however, Erjon Dollapi forced his way over to put his side back in front.
But that was as good as it got for the winless Broncos, as Carney helped himself to a first-half hat-trick to put Cas in full control of the game. London knocked on from the restart to hand possession back to the Tigers and from the resulting goal line drop out the prolific winger touched down Liam Finn’s grubber kick in the corner.
The Aussie wingers’ second try was almost a carbon copy of his first, this time it was Mark Sneyd who placed a delightful kick through. The ‘tank on the flank’ lived up to his nickname with his hat-trick try, charging through tackles to force his way over in the corner five minutes from the break.
Scott Wheeldon touched down just before the half time hooter to virtually wrap up the two points for Daryl Powell’s men on the back of a 40/20 from half-back Finn.
The home side were gifted possession in the second half after the Broncos failed to deal with a high bomb, and from the ensuing set captain Michael Shenton crossed to kill off any lingering hopes of a London fightback.
A matter of minutes later Gareth Carvell forced his way over from close range and Castleford led 40-12. Frankie Mariano scored the Tigers eighth try of the game after the London defence had just about managed to keep Craig Huby from going over, a quick play the ball and good pass from Sneyd allowed the former Wakefield man to score. Dorn claimed his second soon after following good work from Ashley Gibson.
Finn’s pinpoint kick found Kirk Dixon with acres of space on the Tigers right to grab his first try. The home side continued to pile on the pressure as Farrar did well to prevent Mariano passing to Gibson when the Tigers had a two on one.
The sensational Sneyd produced a superb kick under pressure to gift Dixon his second try of the match before the Tigers saved the best try until last. Sharp passing gave Carney a chance to break down the left, his pass back inside was somehow gathered by Jake Webster and he in turn found Adam Milner, whose superb dummy allowed him to get on the score sheet.
Joe Grima’s men had the last word though, Mark McMeekin crashing over on the Tigers’ left edge.
The Broncos remain winless in Super League this season, having lost all 23 matches. Castleford remain 4th, just two points behind Saints at the top of the table, but level on points with Wigan and Leeds who are 2nd and 3rd respectively.
