Tigers back on song

Nick Youngquest: Crossed for a hat-trick of tries

Nick Youngquest bagged a hat-trick of tries as Castleford came out of the doldrums to beat Stobart Super League strugglers Widnes 36-12.

The Tigers had lost three in a row including a Challenge Cup defeat to Featherstone but they dominated the second half to notch an easy win at the PROBIZ Coliseum.

The hosts led 10-8 at the interval but tries after the break from Jordan Thompson, three from Youngquest and Daryl Clark's second of the afternoon condemned the Vikings to their sixth consecutive defeat.

Brett Ferres thought he had opened the scoring for Castleford after bursting past Stefan Marsh to touch down but referee Steve Ganson ruled the centre had been held up.

The Vikings, who had conceded 262 points in their last five matches, were showing signs of indiscipline, with the penalty count racking up early on, and Ben Cross gave away another for obstructing Ferres deep in his own territory.

Although Richie Owen was held up on the right, the ball was quickly spread back across the field for Ferres to cross in the left corner.

Chances

However, with their first real opportunity, the visitors levelled when Joe Mellor's short kick to the right was pouched by Paddy Flynn, who outjumped opposite number Youngquest to touch down, with Rhys Hanbury scoring the conversion.

Both sides had chances but Castleford slowly started to take the initiative and only a tremendous last-gasp tackle prevented Josh Griffin from scoring after Danny Orr had made the breakaway.

The ball was quickly passed to Clark on the left and although he crossed, the video referee ruled there had been a double movement.

Clark would not be denied a second time, however, and exploited a gap in the Widnes defence from dummy half for his side's second try.

Orr added the extras to give the Tigers a 10-6 lead but Widnes scrum-half Hanbury kicked a penalty on the stroke of half-time to narrow the gap to just two points.

A rather scrappy start to the second half ensued, with both sides guilty of committing several handling errors in key areas.

However, Thompson extended Castleford's lead by spinning away from two Widnes defenders before scampering over from 30 metres.

Widnes' situation was worsened when Hanbury's grubber fell to Ferres and he passed to Youngquest, who sprinted the length of the field to touch down, with Craig Huby adding the extras after Orr had left the field due to a back injury.

Youngquest added his second from Ferres' high cut-out pass and registered his hat-trick on the left to give Castleford a 30-8 lead as the Vikings threatened to capitulate.

Clark then added his second of the afternoon, bursting over unchallenged, and Griffin added the conversion before Marsh ended Widnes' woeful second half with a flourish after crossing on the right.