Daily Mirror (Northern Ireland)
WAT A FINISH ..FOR TIGERS!
Watkins’ miss hands it to Castleford in a thriller
KALLUM WATKINS missed a dramatic late touchline conversion as Castleford won a thrilling Grand Final replay at Elland Road.
Watkins, who was outstanding with ball in hand and scored two tries, pushed his attempt wide after Ryan Hall’s miracle try in the corner.
Hall somehow grounded the ball a split-second before his elbow hit the touchline to provide a remarkable finish to a breathless contest.
The defending champions had found themselves 24-0 down before staging a stunning comeback that almost culminated in a famous victory.
But Watkins’ difficult miss meant that Luke Gale’s 40thminute drop goal was the difference between the sides in Super League’s best game of the season so far.
It also provided a summer era record home crowd for Leeds of 23,246, with the game switched to the city’s football stadium while Headingley continues to be redeveloped.
The late drama could not have been predicted when the Tigers roared into a four-score lead inside the first 25 minutes.
Playing a style of rugby reminiscent of the dominant days of last year’s league campaign – when they finished well clear of the pack in the regular season – Daryl Powell’s side pulled their opponents apart almost at will.
Jamie Ellis opened the scoring by touching down Gale’s smart kick.
And shortly after James Clare finished a smart handling move in the left corner.
Alex Foster was the next to cross, plucking a high ball out of the air for a spectacular finish, before Junior Moors grounded a clever Paul Mcshane kick.
But the Rhinos eventually found a foothold in the game before half-time.
Watkins out-jumped the Tigers defence and stretched over in the tackle before Richie Myler kicked for Ash Handley to score.
Gale landed a long-range drop goal right on the hooter, but Leeds continued their comeback after the restart. Handley grabbed his second when he showed outstanding footwork to beat Ellis.
And the gap was down to five points when Watkins eluded Greg Minikin’s clutches.
When Hall squeezed over out wide it gave the Rhinos skipper one last chance to snatch the points – but his kick drifted wide and the Tigers held on to gain some revenge for their Old Trafford defeat last October.