Super League: Two-try Daryl Clark stars as Tigers thrash Wildcats
Daryl Clark saw his stock continue to rise with two tries as Castleford hammered arch-rivals Wakefield 50-12.
By Jonathan Doidge
Last Updated: 18/05/14 11:35pm
The hooker, whose services are sought-after by several other clubs, increased his price tag with two tries and several assists as the Tigers were in control throughout.
Clark's brilliance from dummy-half and in support was a joy to watch, while on-loan Marc Sneyd was another who stood out with an influential performance that included a magnificent score.
Up front the experience of both Andy Lynch and Craig Huby proved invaluable and their hard work allowed the industrious Liam Finn some welcome space to work with.
Wakefield were not helped by the disruption of a first-half facial injury to skipper Danny Kirmond, but that was no excuse for some alarming errors both in defence and also in terms of their cohesion on attack, each costing them points.
Perhaps surprisingly, recent signing from Cas, Richard Owen did not line-up for the Wildcats, though Lee Jewitt did get Daryl Powell's nod for his Tigers debut.
The fourth-placed club had as good as won the game by the break, leading 22-0 and it was Clark who got them on the board in the 12th minute, after Paul Sykes got sucked out of place in the defensive line.
The livewire hooker turned creator soon after, handing the ball to a standing Justin Carney, who shrugged off Richie Mathers, Daniel Smith and Jarrod Sammut in a brutal burst of strength to score the first of his two tries.
Soon after, Clark's break just inside the Wildcats' half was the catalyst for another great four-pointer. This time he drew Sammut and sent the supporting Jordan Tansey racing away to score by the posts.
Embarrassing
Even when Cas turned the ball over immediately from the restart, Wakefield failed to put them under pressure, with Sykes and Harry Siejka involved in the first of a couple of embarrassing crossing mix ups.
The video referee's decision to rule out a Shenton 'score' due to a loose carry by Sneyd, who had made the break, looked harsh, but it did little to interrupt the Tigers' fluency.
Despite the return of skipper Kirmond, who had spent much of the opening half hour off the field with a knock to the head, Wakefield went from bad to worse. Closing in on the Castleford line, Siejka's pass was fumbled by Sammut and Shenton picked up to race 90 metres for his 10th Super League try of the campaign.
As ever in these sort of contests, Wakefield had to start the second-half well and come up with a score, but instead the try of the match and went to the Tigers. Perhaps surprisingly, it did not involve Clark.
Carney's relieving run from close to his own line gave the Tigers momentum, before Sneyd picked the ball up from dummy-half. Stepping his way infield, he linked with Dixon, took his winger's return pass and then supported Shenton to handle for a third time in the move, before stepping inside Sammut for one of the best tries of this or any Super League season.
The annihilation continued. Despite Millington's decision not to pass to a supporting player after his romp down the middle, Sneyd and Shenton both shipped the ball left for Carney to get over for his second, as Castleford poured it on.
Coach Daryl Powell would have been less pleased when his team conceded. Weller Hauraki's speculative offload was intercepted by Chris Riley, before Godinet released the ball from a two-man tackle under the Cas posts for Nick Scruton to walk over for his team's first try.
Undeterred, the Tigers were soon back down the other end and came up with three further scores. Sneyd got over his second, Mariano followed shortly afterwards and despite a second Wakefield try for Sykes after Riley had done well, it was fitting that Clark had the last word.
Capitalising on a loose Moore offload, he took take Webster's pass and raced in from half way to complete a memorable day for Powell's men.