RUGBY LEAGUE
JAKE WEBSTER’S fourtry blitz unleashed the biggest party in Castleford’s 91-year history.
The Tigers have never previously finished top of the table but ended that sorry record with a bang.
Eight tries and some individual brilliance confirmed their status as the game’s great entertainers this year.
It earned them the League Leaders’ Shield, which carries £100,000 prize money and a place in the World Club Series.
And the sell-out 11,235 crowd even got the bonus of settling an old score with close rivals Wakefield into the bargain.
Sweet
Trinity doomed Cas to relegation in a famous do-or-die battle 11 years ago, so this win was especially sweet for the home fans.
The visitors, who are fighting for a top-four spot, certainly did their best to put the party on hold.
They rattled their opponents in the first half with two tries and cut the Tigers’ lead to two points early in the second.
But Cas have run rampant through Super League this year and were never going to let glory slip.
Two tries in two minutes got them back on track and they then hunted the win in ruthless fashion.
It puts them 12 points clear and books them a home semi-final, with four games to play in the Super 8s.
Cas made a nervy start, with a string of errors before Zak Hardaker settled things with the opening try. Quick thinking by hooker Dean Hadley set up a reply for Wakefield with a try by winger Ben Jones-Bishop.
But the Tigers wrestled back the lead when hooker Paul McShane ripped the ball off prop David Fafita to send in back rower Mike McMeeken.
They extended their lead with a brilliant run by Hardaker, who passed Mason Caton-Brown before passing to put in Webster. Luke