ST HELENS

CASTLEFORD WIN ON GOLDEN POINT LUKE GALE settled a Grand Final semi-final of high drama with an extra-time drop goal to send The Jungle into raptures last night.

Gale had semnt the tie to golden point extra-time at 20-20 with a late penalty after a second-half of remarkable fluctuations in which St Helens seemed to have booked their place at Old Trafford.

Castleford, seeking to reach their first Grand Final, were 20-10 up after an hour following tries from Gale and Adam Milner.

But St Helens were not done and scores from Tommy Makinson, Mark Percival and Ryan Morgan put them ahead before Gale’s two-pointer levelled matters.

Gale returned after missing the past two games following emergency keyhole surgery to remove his appendix just 16 days earlier.

The Tigers led inside the opening minute when St Helens second-rower Zeb Taia knocked on from Zak Hardaker’s kick-off.

From the subsequent scrum, Gale was twice involved in a delightful move which saw him find Hardaker, who showed impressive strength to twist through the visiting defence and touch down. Gale converted and then added a penalty to make it 8-0.

It was an awful start from Saints but they gradually steadied and went toe to toe with their hosts and fought back to lead 10-8 at the break.

England centre Mark Percival served notice of their threat with a searing run and moments later, a fine bout of passing culminated in full-back Ben Barba sending winger Regan Grace diving over.

St Helens remained a threat in attack but Castleford thought they had a second try when Hardaker’s last-tackle kick was contested by Percival and Greg Minikin.

Minikin was adjudged to have knocked on, as was Saints forward Louie McCarthy-Scarsbrook at the other end as he latched onto Matty Smith’s kick. As the