MEEK AND MIGHTY!
McMeeken & Gale in storming win
Wakefield 24 Castleford 25
LUKE GALE’S late drop goal sealed a thrilling derby and sent Castleford 10 points clear at the Super League summit.
Daryl Powell’s side were facing a shock defeat when they trailed 16-0 at the break to a Wakefield team looking to boost their own top-four hopes.
But three quick tries after the restart turned the game on its head.
And although David Fifita responded for the home side, Jake Webster’s try levelled matters before Gale stepped forward.
Wakefield had been full value for their interval lead, with their big pack – Fifita was one of four props on the bench – dominating the Tigers.
Their opening try was a breakaway effort, Ben Jones-Bishop racing the length of the field after Dean Hadley was gifted a Jesse Sene-Lefao pass.
Kyle Wood burrowed over from dummy half after a Scott Grix break, with Liam Finn kicking four goals against his former club. But Wakefield’s lead been wiped out within 15 minutes of the restart.
Greg Eden provided a similar effort to JonesBishop’s after Cas swooped on a Joe Arundel error, before Grant Millington crashed over by the posts.
The Tigers were in front for the first time when Mike McMeeken celebrated his new con- tract with their third try, and Gale’s conversion made it 16-18.
Wakefield responded when Fifita barrelled over and a Finn penalty put them six points in front. But Webster lev- elled, Gale made no mistake with the conversion and when Trinity conceded a need- less late penalty, the Tigers worked their way upfield for Gale to seal it.