Tigers prowl in the Valley

Brad Davis produced the pass for Ian Tonk's try

London 20-26 Castleford

Castleford withstood a second-half onslaught to record their fifth victory in the last seven games.

In front of a season's best 8,067 crowd at The Valley the Tigers looked to be cruising to a comfortable victory at half-time when they led 16-6, but the Broncos hit back only to lose concentration with victory in sight.

Five thousand Castleford fans roared their side to a dream start, Nathan Sykes crossing the line from a Jason Flowers pass after only seven minutes. Danny Orr was successful with his first kick.

Three minutes later the Tigers crossed the line again, Brad Davis amazingly passing with three Broncos players in attendance to Michael Eagar to power his way over the line.

Davis again set up Eagar after 23 minutes, the Castleford centre brushing off a poor Frank Napoli challenge to touch down for the second time. Orr's kick gave his side a 16-point lead.

Fightback

The Broncos, who until this point looked distinctly ordinary, started their amazing fightback after 29 minutes.

Jon Clarke, Tulsen Tollett, Glen Air and Brett Warton all combined with quick hands to send Andy Johnson across the line. Warton's kick was successful, reducing the lead to 10 points.

Jon Wells wasted a glorious chance to extend the Tigers' lead three minutes into the second half, Dom Peters forcing the knock-on with the line at the winger's mercy.

This gave the Broncos great heart and 14 minutes later Clarke, Tollett and Warton worked an opening for Karle Hammond to score, Warton's second successful kick reducing the arrears to one try.

Pulled level

The Broncos pulled level after 66 minutes, Steele Retchless racing a full 50 metres to the line after picking up Dean Callaway's pass at first receiver.

Warton missed his kick from the touchline and the Tigers exploited the error as three minutes later Barrie-Jon Mather beat Air on the outside for a four-pointer.

The Tigers eventually made the game safe six minutes from time, Orr getting out another amazing pass to Ian Tonks who barged his way over the line.

The Broncos clawed back some ground two minutes from the end, Hammond passing to Tollett to cross in the corner, but it was too little too late.

Teams:

London: Warton, Napoli, Crouthers, Toshack, Peters, Lupton, Tollett, Dooley, Clarke, Retchless, Wynyard, Johnson, Hammond. Replacements: Callaway, Air, Seibold, Davidson.
Castleford: Flowers, Wells, Eagar, Campbell, Mather, Orr, Davis, Sykes, Raper, Sampson, Harland, Fritz, Vowles. Replacements: Tonks, Shaw, Lynch, McNally.
Referee: Steve Ganson (St Helens)