The last time these two sides met the Leeds Rhinos were runaway 60-6 winners over the Castleford Tigers, inflicting their largest ever Super League win at Wheldon Road and securing massive bragging rights for the Rhinos fans.

Castleford were getting back to something resembling full strength after issues in recent weeks, but the Rhinos were without skipper Matt Prior due to Covid protocols and in the absence of Luke Gale who was serving a suspension, Ash Handley was named as captain for the night.

Leeds were the favourites for the win and to widen the gap between themselves in sixth and the Tigers in eighth with the bookies giving the visitors an eight-point start on the coupon.

Leeds dominated the early exchanges but great Tigers defence kept them out and it was the Tigers who opened the scoring, against the run of play, when Jordan Turner picked up a ball which was put to ground by Rhyse Martin and supplied Greg Eden to scamper over. Danny Richardson added the conversion for a 6-0 lead to the visitors.

King Vuniyayawa was dumped on his back by Suaia Matagi and left the field on twenty minutes and received extensive treatment before being helped from the field.

A high tackle from Konrad Hurrell on twenty-two gifted Richardson a penalty goal to increase the lead.

Martin put the kick-off out on the full and the Tigers took full advantage with Niall Evalds skinning Donaldson before finding Peter Mata’utia to cross for the second try. Richardson added the conversion for 14-0, the Rhinos rocked and stunned.

An awful tackle from Mata’utia on Ash Handley turned the Tigers centre from hero to villain and Ben Thaler brandished a yellow card, Leeds now with a one-man advantage.

Within a minute of the sin-bin, the Rhinos made the Tigers pay with Rob Lui finding his way over. Martin added the goal to get Leeds within eight, but they couldn’t improve despite the man advantage and the Tigers took a 14-6 lead into the sheds.

Leeds were first in the board when the stand in skipper Handley grounded one-handed in the corner after expansive play from his Rhinos team-mates, Newman putting in the final pass. Martin added the touchline conversion to reduce the arrears to just two points.

Jordan Turner scored against the run of play when Paul McShane broke downfield, halted twenty short by Richie Myler, but a fast play the ball saw the ball moved into the hands of Turner to score in the corner. Richardson added the touchline conversion, in off the far post.

A try saving tackle from Brad Dwyer on Eden kept the Rhinos in the game, but they couldn’t find their way through a resolute Tigers defence. It was the Tigers who again punished the Rhinos with Eden bouncing off the post pad and dropping over for the fourth Castleford try. Richardson kicked his fifth goal of the night to seal the away win.

A dummy half scoot from Brad Dwyer on seventy-seven was scant consolation for the Rhinos. Martin added the goal for 18-26.

As a final insult to the Rhinos, ex-player Jimmy Keinhorst was on hand to complete another counter-attack try for the Tigers after Leeds coughed up the ball while attacking deep in the Castleford half. Richardson added the conversion for 32-18 for what could be a decisive victory for Daryl Powell's side.

The Tigers rode their luck at times and for long periods were second best but a very disciplined defence denied repeated attacking attempts from the Rhinos and the ability to break through the home sides defence on the counter attack sealed an important win which keeps their hopes of a top half of the table finish. Leeds dropped a place in the league table with their defeat and are now only narrowly ahead of their local rivals.

Leeds Rhinos: Myler, Handley (T), Newman, Hurrell, T. Briscoe, Lui (T), Sutcliffe L, Vuniyayawa, Leeming, Thompson, Donaldson, Martin (2G), Tetevano. Subs: Holroyd, Dwyer, Gannon, Smith.

Castleford Tigers: Evalds, Eden (2T), Turner (T), Mata’utia (T, SB on 29), Olpherts, Richardson (6G), O’Brien, Smith, McShane, Millington, Holmes, Sene-Lefeo, Milner. Subs: Massey, Foster, Matagi, Keinhorst (T).

Half-Time: 6-14.

Full-Time: 18-26.

Referee: Ben Thaler.

Score Progression: 0-4, 0-6, 0-8, 0-12, 0-14, (SB), 4-14, 6-14 : HT : 10-14, 12-14, 12-18, 12-20, 12-24, 12-26, 16-26, 18-26, 18-30, 18-32 : FT.