Brough shows no mercy

Danny Brough condemned his former club Castleford Tigers to their sixth defeat of the season at Wakefield on Friday night.

Brough, who joined the Wildcats in the off-season after inspiring the Tigers into the top flight last season, spared his old side no sentiment in the 28-16 victory.

Jamie Rooney (five), Aaron Murphy (16), Sam Obst (30), Brough (54) and Ryan Atkins (62) ran in the tries for the home side who have now gone above Hull FC and Huddersfield Giants in the early Super League standings.

The Tigers were condemned to relegation on their last visit to Belle Vue in 2006 and they fared little better on their 2008 return.

Competitive

Jason Demetriou's kick bounced kindly for Rooney to collect and race over for the game's first try as Wakefield drew first blood. Brough converted and the lead was soon doubled.

Adam Watene's ferocious tackle forced Brent Sherwin to cough up possession and the ball eventually found its way to Murphy to touch down for the second converted try of the game.

Yet the Tigers hit back, despite the deteriorating weather in West Yorkshire, as Luke Dorn brilliantly snatched a bouncing ball from under Matt Blaymire's nose before side-stepping Murphy in-goal to touch down under the posts. Craig Huby kicked the extras.

Peter Lupton pounced on another Sherwin kick as Castleford took advantage of a penalty close to Wakefield's goalline and the visitors were just 12-10 down at that stage.

But Sam Obst scampered through from dummy half for Wakefield's third try before the break as the hosts went into the interval 16-10 up.

Killer

Winger Richard Owen went close for Castleford after the restart, but it was that man Brough who raced through for the first score of the half. Rooney took over the kicking duties from the Scotland captain and promptly put his side 22-10 ahead.

Dorn broke clear down the left for his second try of the game though and Joe Westerman added the extras as Castleford struck back.

But Brough soon put paid to any prospect of a late Cas fightback by starting the move that saw Rooney put Atkins over for the killer try.

It was Atkins' fifth try of the season and a superb way to celebrate the award of a new contract.

Rooney wrapped up the 28-16 win with a late penalty and Castleford remain rooted to the bottom of the table.