Round 5
Castleford Tigers 38 d. Leeds Rhinos 20

2008 engage English Super League Index [Table] [Draw] [Player Stats] [Club Headlines]

Location: United Kingdom > National > First Grade Competition: engage English Super League

Castleford stun Leeds in upset of the season
Sat March 8, 2008
Source: www.superleague.co.uk

engage Super League champions Leeds Rhinos came crashing down to earth seven days on from their epic World Club Challenge triumph as promoted Castleford Tigers claimed their first win of the season in stunning fashion.

The Tigers turned the table on its head to inflict on their neighbours a 38-20 defeat - their since their play-off reverse at St Helens in September, despite a hat-trick of tries from winger Scott Donald.

It was like the classy Cas of old as Terry Matterson's men shrugged off their indifferent start to the season - which included a 64-12 hammering at Huddersfield a fortnight ago - to get off the mark in scintillating style with a seven-try rout.

The Tigers shocked the champions with their enthusiasm and no little skill after conceding the opening try of the match and left the field to a standing ovation from the 9,459 crowd.

Their heroes were three-quarters Stuart Donlan and Michael Shenton, who scored three tries between them on their return from injury.

Leeds coach Brian McClennan, who gave a debut to prop Luke Burgess, sprang a surprise by opting for Jordan Tansey at stand-off in place of the injured Danny McGuire in order to leave skipper Kevin Sinfield at loose forward.

But the game appeared to be going to form when the champions went in front on 16 minutes, Sinfield and full-back Brent Webb combining to release Donald from a scrum 60 metres out and the Australian showed a clean pair of heels to register his 50th try for the club.

Sinfield added the goal but it took Castleford only four minutes to strike back and it was 18-year-old loose forward Joe Westerman who lifted the spirits of the home crowd.

The highly promising teenager regathered his own grubber kick 10 metres out from the Leeds line and handed off hooker Matt Diskin to touch down for his first engage Super League try.

Westerman was off target with the conversion but the score did wonders for the Tigers' confidence as they forced a scrum on the visitors' 22 and scored a second try straight from it.

Quick hands by Luke Dorn and Brent Sherwin created the space for centre Ryan McGoldrick to send Stuart Donlan over for a try on his first game back from injury.

Westerman was again off target with the kick but Castleford almost scored again when Dorn's precision kick set up McGoldrick only for Tansey to get a boot to the ball to deny the Australian.

Dorn was not to be denied, however, for he timed his run to perfection to follow up Sherwin's grubber kick and claim a third try, which Westerman this time converted.

Leeds looked threatening with the ball but they frequently ruined promising moves with uncharacteristic handling errors.

The prospects of an upset soared when Castleford made a sensational start to the second half, with the returning Shenton scoring two tries within three minutes of the restart.

Straight from the kick-off, Donlan breezed past Keith Senior on his own 10 metre line and gave his centre an unopposed run to the line.

Two minutes later, Leeds were still in shock and caught napping when superb handling again got Shenton into space and he sold an outrageous dummy to cross for his second try.

Westerman was able to add a second conversion to make it 24-6 but the Rhinos were stung into action and they responded with two tries in seven minutes, both from Donald.

Senior was the provider for the first, while substitute forward Ali Lauitiiti offloaded from the tackle to enable the winger to complete his hat-trick with his ninth try of the season.

Unfortunately for the champions, Sinfield was wide with both conversion attempts and the Tigers pulled ahead again on 61 minutes when full-back Ryan McGoldrick sliced clean through the visitors' defence for a sixth try.

Shenton thought he had completed his hat-trick when Donlan gathered Sherwin's high kick and offloaded from the tackle but video referee Ben Thaler disallowed it for passing off the ground.

Westerman edged his side further in front with a penalty before Tansey scored a consolation try for the Rhinos but Castleford finished in total control, with Dorn racing in for his side's seventh try, and Westerman took his goal tally to five from eight attempts.

Report source: www.superleague.co.uk

SCORING ORDER
16 Leeds Try by Scott Donald
18 Leeds Goal missed by Kevin Sinfield
19 Leeds Goal by Kevin Sinfield
20 Castleford Try by Joe Westerman
21 Castleford Goal missed by Ryan McGoldrick
23 Castleford Try by Stuart Donlan
25 Castleford Goal missed by Joe Westerman
32 Castleford Try by Luke Dorn
32 Castleford Goal by Joe Westerman
----------
41 Castleford Try by Michael Shenton
42 Castleford Goal missed by Joe Westerman
44 Castleford Try by Michael Shenton
45 Castleford Goal by Joe Westerman
48 Leeds Try by Scott Donald
49 Leeds Goal missed by Kevin Sinfield
54 Leeds Try by Scott Donald
55 Leeds Goal missed by Kevin Sinfield
62 Castleford Try by Ryan McGoldrick
63 Castleford Goal by Joe Westerman
71 Castleford Goal by Joe Westerman
76 Leeds Try by Jordan Tansey
76 Leeds Goal by Kevin Sinfield
80 Castleford Try by Luke Dorn
80 Castleford Goal by Joe Westerman


Headingley Insight: Leeds v Castleford
Fri March 7, 2008
Source: www.leedsrugby.com

In this weeks edition of Headingley Carnegie Insight Leeds coach Brian McClennan looks ahead to the Rhinos game at Castleford this Friday, kick off 7:30pm.

HOW WILL YOU APPROACH THIS GAME?
This is a local derby and I know that it is a game that both sets of fans particularly look forward to. We were obviously delighted and proud to win the Carnegie World Club Challenge last Friday night at Elland Road and it was right and proper to allow the squad to enjoy the moment and appreciate their achievement. Having said that we have got a very determined and mature group of players and come Monday morning, everyone was focused on Castleford on Friday night.

WHAT DO YOU KNOW ABOUT CASTLEFORD?
Having looked at them on video, they were unlucky last week to not get more from their game against Harlequins when they led late on. They obviously had a fantastic season last year getting back into Super League and they will be looking to build on that achievement this year. They are at home, which will obviously be of benefit to them, and they are expecting a large crowd so it should make for a great occasion.

WILL YOU MAKE ANY CHANGES THIS WEEK?
The game against Melbourne was a tough, bruising encounter and we obviously lost Danny McGuire and Clinton Toopi during the match. We have drafted in Jordan Tansey and Ashley Gibson to replace those players and the coaching staff have every confidence in those players and our development system that they will be ready for Friday night.

Jamie Peacock has got a couple of little injuries and we are mindful of his importance not only to the Rhinos but also the national side so we will not risk him this week. Instead, Luke "Biffa" Burgess will come into the squad and is set to make his debut for the Rhinos. Biffa has been one of the outstanding players in our squad since my arrival at the club with his attitude and commitment in training and he certainly deserves his chance for the Rhinos.

BURGESS SET FOR RHINOS DEBUT
21-year-old Luke Burgess will become the latest player from the Leeds Rhinos Academy system to make his debut in Super League when the World Champions take on Castleford this Friday.

Burgess, the older brother of Bradford and Great Britain star Sam Burgess, has been named in the Rhinos squad for their trip to Welford Road. It will be his first appearance for the Rhinos however he has played in Super League before when he spent a month on loan at Harlequins RL in 2007 making three appearances as a replacement.

Young hooker Ben Kaye has also been drafted into the squad after Ian Kirke failed to recover from the hamstring strain which kept him out of the Carnegie World Club Challenge.

The squad in full is:

1 Brent Webb
2 Scott Donald
4 Keith Senior
5 Lee Smith
7 Rob Burrow
8 Kylie Leuluai
9 Matt Diskin
11 Jamie Jones Buchanan
12 Gareth Ellis
13 Kevin Sinfield
14 Ali Lauitiiti
16 Ryan Bailey
17 Nick Scruton
19 Carl Ablett
20 Ashley Gibson
21 Jordan Tansey
24 Luke Burgess
26 Ben Kaye

News sent by: www.leedsrugby.com

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