Castleford Tigers 28-14 St Helens: Super League champions brushed aside

Castleford Tigers moved level on points with Wigan Warriors at the top of Super League after they triumphed 28-14 against defending champions St Helens.

With rugby league – for now – continuing despite sporting events and competitions across the globe being postponed due to coronavirus, it was the Tigers who impressed in Sunday's solitary Super League fixture.

After a bright start, Castleford were up and running 12 minutes in, Peter Mata'utia bursting through following fine work from Danny Richardson, who subsequently added the extras against his former club.

Mata'utia turned provider for Derrell Olpherts eight minutes later, with the latter then doubling his tally with a superb diving finish in the corner, though Saints' Tommy Makinson reduced the deficit to 10 points at half-time.

Having played the last 10 minutes of the first half without the cautioned Matty Lees, Saints lost Louis McCarthy-Scarsbrook to the sin bin shortly after the restart, with Cheyse Blair extending the Tigers' advantage.

Jack Welsby crossed for Saints, but Jake Trueman soon delivered another Castleford score as the Tigers clinched a fifth win in seven outings.

Luke Thompson's late try was no more than a consolation effort for Saints, who have now lost three times this season to sit in sixth place.

FULL TIME: Castleford Tigers 28-14 St Helens A brilliant performance from the Tigers sees them get the win over the 2019 Champions! Get in you Fords! 28-14#COYF | #SLCasSth pic.twitter.com/Vx9b62IPCO

— Castleford Tigers (@CTRLFC) March 15, 2020