Castleford edge out York in rollercoaster encounter

Castleford Tigers celebrate against York KnightsSWPix

Castleford Tigers had lost against both Hull sides in their most recent pair of Super League fixtures before Saturday's win at York Knights

Betfred Super League

York (18) 18

Tries: Vuniyayawa, Wood, Galeano Goals: Hunter 3

Castleford (12) 24

Tries: Hirst, Qareqare, Atoni, Greacen Goals: Weaver 4

Castleford Tigers edged a topsy-turvy game to beat York Knights in the first-ever Super League encounter between the clubs.

George Hirst and King Vuniyayawa exchanged tries early on with Jason Qareqare's try for Cas then cancelled out after Sam Wood went in for the hosts.

The Knights ended the first half 18-12 on top through Scott Galeano, but Cas fought back ahead through Renouf Atoni and Brock Greacen.

Cas' task was made slightly harder when Hirst was sent to the bin for a high tackle on Justin Sangare, but they held out for a fourth win this term.

Victory helped Tigers leapfrog their hosts in the table, although both sides remain in the bottom five.

After a try apiece within the first eight minutes, York and Castleford continued to trade blows in a thrilling first half.

Qareqare's try came via an impressive flowing move from the visitors, with Tom Weaver helping to send him through at the corner.

Not to be outdone, York did tremendously well to keep the ball alive as they crowded the Cas try-line, with a pat down from a high pass sending Wood to power though.

York kept up the pressure before the break and continued their turnaround when Galeano went in.

Castleford thought they had made the perfect response on their return when Phoenix Laulu-Togaga'e went in but his effort was chalked off by video referee James Vella for a knock-on in the build-up.

Cas kept up the pressure and Atoni bulldozed his way to the line despite heavy pressure from the hosts' defence, yet Weaver somehow missed an easy conversion as York preserved a two-point lead.

There was a pause in play 15 minutes into the second half when York's Jesse Dee received treatment on the field having sustained a head injury in a tackle with Alex Mellor.

An end-to-end game continued as, following a York error, Cas regained possession and eventually fed Greacen to twist and turn his way over the line, with the hosts maintaining their lead despite being reduced to 12 for most of the final stages.

York: Mata'afa; Galeano, Wood, Buchanan, Nofoalumal; Hunter, Roberts; Martin, McShane, Vaughan, Foster, Dee, Vuniyayawa.

Interchanges: Balmforth, Va'a, Sangare, Hingano.

Castleford: Laulu-Togaga'e; McIntosh, Cini, Mapapalangi, Qareqare; Asi, Weaver; Dupree, Golding, Stimson, Hirst, Mellor, Lane.

Interchanges: Atoni, Lawler, Greacen, Robb.

Referee: Marcus Griffiths