The Rugby Football League were right that 'every minute matters', and today's game at the Mend-a-Hose Jungle was no exception as high flying Hull KR were the visitors to a Castleford Tigers who are themselves starting to find some form.

Both sides had a lot to play for. A win by thirty-five points or more would see Castleford up to fourth, and a win of any type would see them go above the visitors into fifth. If Hull KR could get a win they would be up to third, and a win by more than fifty-eight points would see them into second spot.

Both sides have built a recent reputation on open rugby backed by muscle and the tonight's game was eagerly anticipated.

The visitors got off to a dream start when a delightful flick pass from Goulding found Ken Sio to dive over in the corner. Mantellato missed the conversion attempt from the sideline but few thought it would turn out to be his last conversion of the game.

On ten the Tigers took the lead when Roberts did all the work before passing to Jordan Tansey who stepped and grounded towards the corner flag. Gale goaled brilliantly for 6-4. As the half-hour approached the Tigers took full advantage of a bit of luck when a Mariano back-handed pass hit Goulding and bounced towards the KR line where Gale picked up the loose ball and walked in a simple try to which he promptly added the extras.

Five minutes later and it was 18-4 after Ollett had held down Mariano and a KR knock-down gave the Tigers another six. Two tackles into the set and Nathan Massey bust three tackles to score. Gale added another two for a comfortable half time lead.

KR hadn't been too far off the boil but the Tigers had taken all their chances.

The second half was end to end but only saw seven more points, but it did see Justin Carney leave the field after forty-six with a nasty looking elbow injury.

On the hour mark Gale took advantage of perfect field position by slotting over a drop goal for 19-4 and four minutes later some poor KR tackling allowed Mariano to brush off three tacklers to score. Gale's conversion was the last score of the game as the two defences cancelled one another out to give the Tigers a hard fought 25-4 win.

While the Tigers definitely had the upper hand, they didn't look to be twenty points better than their visitors. They simply grasped their chances where KR squandered theirs. The Tigers are up to fifth and must now feel that their season is really getting going, just as it is all starting to get very interesting.

Tigers: Tansey, Gibson, Channing, Shenton, Carney, Roberts, Gale, Lynch, Moore, Wheeldon, Holmes, Mariano, Massey. Subs: Milner, Millington, Boyle, Jewitt.
KR: Dixon, Mantellato, Welham, Goulding, Sio, Campese, Kelly, Walker, Lunt, Allgood, Larroyer, Horne, McCarthy. Subs: Cockayne, Ollett, Green, Burke.

Referee: Ben Thaler
Attendance: 6,012