Hull FC 16-30 Castleford Tigers: Castleford impress in Super 8s
Last Updated: 08/08/16 10:11am
Castleford Tigers upset the league leaders Hull FC with a 30-16 victory away from home in the Super 8s.
Hull looked distinctly jaded after their epic Challenge Cup semi-final win over Wigan and the Tigers made them pay, meaning Wigan are now level with Hull at the top after their win over Wakefield.
Castleford blew Hull off the park in the first turning around 20-0 up. Hull have had a tendency in recent games to concede the first try, like they did against Wigan. More often than not they have found a way to win those games, but not here.
Lee Radford's side fell behind in the fourth minute when Greg Minkin scored in the left-hand corner, ducking under a weak Carlos Tuimavave tackle.
The fact Castleford were in a try-scoring opportunity was down to Denny Solomona's brilliant break downfield after gathering a high kick deep in his own half. Luke Gale's missed conversion left the Tigers with a 4-0 lead.
Castleford coach Daryl Powell took the unusual step of making four interchanges at once in the 17th minute. It worked a treat as the Tigers scored twice in five minutes on the back of it.
Ryan Hamsphire went over in the right-hand corner, cutting back on the inside through a gap left by overzealous Hull defenders. Gale made it 10-0 with his first successful conversion of the night.
Gale was then quickest to a loose ball to score a simple try but was unable to make it a six-pointer to leave the league leaders trailing 14-0.
It got much better for the visitors when in the space of 60 seconds they enjoyed a 12-point turnaround.
Sika Manu was denied a try that would have got Hull back in the game. Castleford wasted little time to make Hull pay further when Luke Dorn strolled through a tired looking FC defence. Gale's conversion made it 20-0, the same score Hull found themselves behind at neighbours Hull KR on Good Friday.
That day they found a way to win by playing off-the-cuff rugby. That was not the case here as Castleford continued to dominate the game with their offload game stretching Hull all over the park.
Range Chase's offload sent Hampshire over for his second try of the night. Gale's conversion hit the left upright but it didn't matter as his side were 24-0 in front.
Hull had a second try disallowed when Steve Michaels was tackled into touched before he grounded the ball.
Michaels was not to be denied seven minutes later when Danny Washbrook sent the Australian over in the right-hand corner. Marc Sneyd's missed conversion left Hull trailing 24-4.
Hull scored a second try shortly afterwards when Washbrook crashed over. Sneyd converted to make it 24-10 with 10 minutes to play.
Hull were not going down without a fight and scored a third try in 11 minutes when Jamie Shaul got on the scoresheet taking Frank Pritchard's offload over the line. Sneyd's conversion left Hull trailing 24-16, but time was running out.
And the last say went to the visitors and hooker Adam Milner who walked through in the final minute to compound Hull's misery. Gale's conversion made the final score 30-16.
Castleford now sit seven points outside the top four, where they need to be at the end of the Super 8s stage.