Sunday 10 July 2016 21:19, UK
Castleford coach Daryl Powell says the pressure is off his team after they finally secured their place in the top eight of the First Utility Super League with a 38-24 win over Catalans Dragons.
Full-back Luke Dorn and winger Ryan Hampshire scored two tries apiece as the Tigers ended a run of four defeats in all games to ensure their survival in the top flight and give themselves an outside shot at the top four in the Super 8s.
"Clearly it's an important win for us," said Powell. "If you look at the way things have been going - Hull KR could easily win their next two games - so in terms of the whole season so far, it was a crucial game.
"We were a little bit scratchy at times but we've got to be happy we've been able to get the two points that releases a bit of pressure on us and gives us an opportunity to kick on for the rest of the season.
"There is a lot of improvement on what we did today but the frustration and the anxiety dies a little bit after today because we know where we're going to be."
Powell was especially relieved to end a three-month wait for a home win.
"We haven't heard Sweet Caroline for a while so it was good to hear the old melody today," he said.
"Our home form is always important and we haven't been great here but we refocused a little bit over the last week and hopefully we've got a bit of a platform to kick on with."
Powell, who opted to give new signing Rangi Chase another week's training before reintroducing him to the team, was delighted with the contribution of Hampshire, who was signed on a season-long loan from Wigan as a half-back but trebled his try tally for the season in the makeshift role of winger.
"Our outside backs are stripped down to the bare bones and I got a text from him in the week saying he'll play anywhere for the team and if that's on wing, then so be it," Powell said.
"He certainly looked like he wanted to play there which is really pleasing. It was a great effort from him."
Second rower Frankie Mariano provided the highlight on his second appearance of an injury-hit season by charging 40 metres for a solo try.
"It was great for him," Powell said. "He's just come back in and it's been a tough ride for him for a fair while.
"He can do that, he's a big old human being and, when he is rolling that quick, it's hard to bring him down."
Catalans, who were without influential stand-off Todd Carney because of a knee injury, took an early lead through Justin Horo but never recovered from the shock of conceding two tries in five minutes just before half-time as they crashed to a fourth successive defeat which leaves coach Laurent Frayssinous a worried man.
"I wanted a response from last week and I thought for the first 20 minutes we were pretty good," he said. "The last 10 of the first half cost us the game. They were too good for us.
"It's a concern and it's up to me to find the solution. We need to fix some issues, the first point to get some boys back on the pitch and we also need to manage a few sore bodies who keep on playing.
"Hopefully we'll have some boys back in the next few weeks."
