The league points were not under debate in the opening round
fifteen fixture at Wheldon Road, they were heading back to Hull with the
Champions elect Hull KR with Castleford Tigers role to try and minimise the
points against column.
There bookies gave the home side an eighteen-point start on
the coupon, some recognition for their recent improvement in form as they saw their
injured stars starting to trickle back into their line-up.
KR won the opening round fixture of the 2025 season by a golden
point against tonight’s opposition and you must go back to May 2022 for the last
Castleford victory over the Robins.
Only three minutes had elapsed when Jack Broadbent broke the
Tigers line down the left side and ran towards the post before stooping to
ground. Arthur Mourge thanked Broadbent for improving the angle by kicking the
extras with ease.
On ten minutes Noah Booth scored a spectacular try in the
corner as he leapt for the flag, going in from ten metres out. Mourgue added
the conversion from the touchline for a 12-0 lead.
On twenty-four Tom Davies took a looping pass from Mourgue to
run twenty metres on the arc down the right, and dive over in the corner under the
tackle. Mourgue was unable to add the two this time, KR cruising with a 16-0
lead.
Luckley went close on thirty-one and a metre short of the line
he offloaded to Mourgue who slid in under the tackle for the fourth unanswered
Robins try. Mourge was unable to tag the extra two onto his four points.
Hull KR were in total control at the interval, four tries
and two disallowed by the video referee.
The Tigers spent the opening seven minutes of the second
half defending for their lives, but a great break from Innes Senior saw him offload
to Zac Cini close to the line, but as he went over the ball slipped from his grasp
and the try was ruled out by the officials.
On fifty-three the pressure on the Tigers line finally told,
Jai Whitbread taking a bounce pass and stepping off both feet to cross. Mourgue
added the conversion for 26-0.
A set restart following a Tigers knock-on from a high kick,
the ball was picked up by Booth who shot through a gap to dive in. Mourgue
added the conversion, his fourth from six attempts.
It was all too easy for KR on sixty-nine, Peta Hiku one of
three men who could have scored as the Tigers defence fell apart with a break
from forty out. Mourgue added the conversion for 38-0, it was turning into a
massacre.
KR went through a forty-point mark on seventy-three,
Broadbent again in loads of space to score down the right-hand side. Mourgue pushed
his kick across the face of the sticks.
A minute from time a Mikey Lewis kick towards the posts was
caught by Broadbent above his head and grounded. Mourge kicked his sixth goal
of the night for an emphatic 48-0 victory.
Hull KR go back four points clear of the chasing Wigan Warriors
who face Wakefield Trinity later in the round. Still just one defeat in the season
for the Robins who are showing that they are far too strong for most of the league
after their best start to a season. The Tigers showed plenty of effort, but unfortunately
most of it was in defence, as they struggled for any kind of toehold.
Castleford Tigers: Cini, Simm, Senior L, Wood, Senior I, Asi,
Milnes, Amo0ne, Horne, Singleton, Lawler, Mellor, Atkin. Subs: Westerman, Griffin, Hall, Hill. 18th
Man: Okoro.
Hull KR: Mourgue (T, G 6/9), Davies (2T), Hiku (T), Broadbent
(2T), Booth (2T), Lewis, May, Sue, Litten, Hadley, Whitbread (T), Batchelor,
Minchella. Subs: Luckley, Leylan, Tanginoa, Brown. 18th Man: Doro.
Half-Time: 0-20.
Full-Time: 0-42.
Score Progression: 0-4, 0-6, 0-10, 0-12, 0-16, 0-20 : HT: 0-24,
0-26, 0-30, 0-32, 0-36, 0-38, 0-42, 0-46, 0-48 :FT.
Lead Exchanges: KR.
Referee: Liam Moore.
