End of our season
Spirited Saders just fall short of Jungle win
End of our season
By Chris O'Brien
September 13 2009
In a game very similar to the reverse fixture, the Castleford Tigers beat the Celtic Crusaders 35-22 as the curtain came down on our inaugural season in Super League. It was a brave performance from the inexperienced Saders who nearly bid a fond farewell to John Dixon with an unexpected victory.
End of our season
September 13 2009
In a game very similar to the reverse fixture, the Castleford Tigers beat the Celtic Crusaders 35-22 as the curtain came down on our inaugural season in Super League. It was a brave performance from the inexperienced Saders who nearly bid a fond farewell to John Dixon with an unexpected victory.
Few pundits tipped the Saders to enjoy even a fighting chance at the Jungle as the club searched for their fourth win of a campaign filled with turmoil.
A handicap of 40 points was slapped on the match by bookmakers and many expected Castleford to match that with an emphatic win.
However, the Crusaders played with plenty of fight and spirit and nearly pulled off a shock result. With an hour on the clock, the scores were deadlocked at 22-22.
Superior fitness and mental toughness, however, eventually told for the hosts as Michael Shenton's try, Brent Sheerwin's drop-goal and a late Craig Huby effort sealed two more points for the Yorkshire side.
This was not, however, the performance that Cas coach Terry Matterson will have wanted as his side prepare for the month-long play-off campaign.
Castleford lacked discipline and referee James Child, who retired at half-time with a foot injury, gave us eight penalties in the opening forty minutes.
The Crusaders took advantage of such good fortune and enjoyed a 16-14 lead at the break thanks to a Lloyd White try and a brace from the excellent Lincoln Withers. The small band of away fans started to dream of an upset when Ryan O'Hara crossed immediately after the re-start, but it wasn't to be.
This was a spirited display and one which will please Dixon who is now expected to return back to Australia to find a new coaching role. There were some encouraging signs for next season, but in all honesty our favoured XIII next year will probably look remarkably different to this line-up.
So there we have it, but we're going nowhere over the autumn and winter and will have more stories on the future of the club in the next week, plus a few little looks at how the play-offs are shaping up. How, you have to wonder, will Brian Noble's Wigan Warriors do amid speculation that the former GB boss is on his way to Newport.
Well done Saders. A hard season - but a memorable one.
Full Time - Castleford Tigers 34-22 Celtic Crusaders
Attendance - 6,457
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Stumbleupon| 13 Sep, 2009 21:59 | Report |
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CruXIII (IP Logged) Unregistered User |
Spirited Saders just fall short of Jungle win
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| 20 Sep, 2009 13:18 | Report |
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swanseablue (IP Logged) Unregistered User |
Re: Spirited Saders just fall short of Jungle win
A better performance and I think giving the local boys a chance in the deep ends will hether we can afford to do this in view of the licence applications next year is open to debate .I don't think the club can afford to finish bottom again. Still from a fans perspective its been a fascinating season.
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| 22 Sep, 2009 11:55 | Report |
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40:20 (IP Logged) Registered User |
Date Joined: Oct, 2006 Location: Posts: 675 |
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