Castleford Tigers and York Knights both bounced back from last week’s defeats with important wins in their Super League Week 3 matches on Friday night.
Castleford were inspired by Tom Weaver’s two-try performance in a 34-8 win over Huddersfield, with the Giants still chasing their first point of the season.
York followed up last week’s disastrous defeat at Leeds Rhinos with a narrow 17-16 win over Hull FC, giving the Super League newcomers their second win in the top division in just three weeks.
Here is a summary of the action from the two Super League matches held on Friday night.
Weaver gives Castleford their first win of the season
Castleford achieved their first win of the season in front of their home crowd.
Castleford won 34-8 to take their first win of the season, with Huddersfield still looking for their first point.
The Giants had won eight of the last nine meetings between the West Yorkshire rivals but fell asleep early on, allowing Liam Hood to take the lead with his second try of the season.
Darnell McIntosh, playing against his old team, added a second goal by jumping between two tackles.
Huddersfield were reduced to 12 men when Tahne Milne was sin-binned, and from a penalty George Lawlor found the hole at number three.
Huddersfield finally got into the game before half-time, with some rare attacking fluency from Jacob Gagai making it 16-4 at half-time.
Tom Weaver dived in from Dejaan Ashi’s grubber kick to extend their lead, before George Flanagan hit back with his fourth try of the season.
Cuss held out at times as Huddersfield tested their goal-line defence, but further tries from Weaver and debutant Ashton Goulding rounded out the victory, also against their old club.
Tom Weaver led Castleford’s team with a two-try performance.
Robinson: We were ‘total trash’
Huddersfield manager Luke Robinson told Sky Sports:
“We were trash, utter trash.
“It’s a very simple game. If you keep the ball, you put a little bit of pressure on them and stress them a little bit, but we just dropped the ball over and over again.”
Castleford head coach Ryan Kerr told Sky Sports:
“I think it was a really tough performance from our players.
“They’re a team that never goes away, Huddersfield, so we knew we were going to play the full 80 minutes. I’m really happy we were able to come back in the second half and play the full 40 minutes.”
Noforma with 2 tries helps drive York to Hull
York’s David Noforma scores twice on debut
David Noforma scored twice in his York debut and the Knights came from a 10-6 deficit to a surprise 17-16 win on the road.
First blood went to the Super League newcomer after a flowing move ended with Nofoaluma crossing the corner.
Hull responded with Davy Litten breaking through the yoke line as the ball was sent directly to the right from the scrum.
Harvey Barron then rode his bike to the right to give Hull a four-point lead at half-time.
But just after the break Hull’s mistake was punished, giving Nofoaluma their second try of the night.
Ben Jones-Bishop converted a corner kick to put York back in the lead, and Danny Richardson’s drop goal extended the advantage to seven.
Lewis Martin scored a late try but injuries to Barron and Aidan Cesar made for a disastrous night.
York’s Ben Jones-Bishop celebrates try against Hull FC
Appelgarth: We support ourselves every day
York Knights head coach Mark Applegarth told Sky Sports:
“We just take it one week at a time.
“We cheer ourselves on every day. One of our main characteristics this year is to show up for each other and for unity.”
Hull boss John Cartwright told Sky Sports:
“We had to make a lot of changes.
“In the second half we lost our way. They scored a couple of tries, took the lead and defended it.”
