Salford Red Devils 30 Castleford Tigers 37 - McShane shines in comeback win

After losing from 14-0 and 12-0 up against Catalans Dragons and Wigan Warriors, this time Tigers went from the ridiculous to the sublime.

Trailing 18-0 after just 11 minutes at Emerald Headingley, they - remarkably - hit back to lead for a spell in the first half before the sides went in at the interval all square.

An early Castleford score in the second half was quickly wiped out, but they went one point clear with 15 minutes left and a converted try inside the final 10 minutes sealed their first victory since March.

It was another fast, rollercoaster of a game, with some outstanding moments on attack, but nothing much in terms of defence from either team.

That could well be the pattern for the rest of the season as the fixture pile up and injuries take their toll.

Castleford, without injured stand-off Jake Trueman, can take great credit from their fightback and were very sharp with ball in hand at times, but will need to be more consistent if they are to challenge for a semi-final place.

Salford’s second try was well worked, full-back Niall Evalds - who will join Tigers next year - slicing through off some nice handling close to the line, but the first and third should have been prevented.

Kev Brown was handed the opener on a plate, intercepting Tigers prop George Griffin’s pass to stroll over from 40 metres.

Then after Evalds’ try, Joey Lussick plunged through from acting-half.

Krisnan Inu converted all three and Tigers’ were being embarrassed.

But Castleford’s revival was orchestrated by Paul McShane, who scored two tries and set up another.

Danny Richardson has had a mixed season so far, but he came up with Tigers opening try out of nothing after 18 minutes, kicking near the line, regathering and managing to get the ball down in Evalds’ attempted tackle.

Richardson was official man of the match, but McShane was the outstanding player. Six minutes later McShane sent Michael Shenton over and then the hooker scooted in from acting-half to - with Richardson converting all three - to level the scores 12 minutes before the break.

It got even better for Cas as they hit the front a couple of minutes later, through McShane who began and finished a sweeping move - sending Gareth O’Brien into a gap and supporting Richardson who provided the final pass for a terrific, converted, try.

Salford looked shell-shocked at that stage, but a penalty on 38 minutes gave them an opportunity and, after Greg Burke had been held up, Luke Yates’ converted try off Tui Lolohea’s pass levelled the scores.

Cas were back in front six minutes into the second period, through Mike McMeeken. Liam Watts’ wonderful offload sent Richardson away and the second-rower supported him to score.

Richardson booted the extra two and Inu did likewise on 52 minutes after Rhys Williams held off O’Brien and Richardson to force his way over at the corner.

Castleford went ahead for the third time with 15 minutes remaining when Cas had the presence of mind to set up for a drop goal, which Richardson landed.

Richardson was the creator on 72 minutes when he kicked into space and Grant Millington touched down.

The scrum-half added the conversion to put two scores between the teams and that proved enough.

Salford Red Devils: Evalds, Inu, Welham, Kear, Williams, Lolohea, Brown, Dudson, Lussick, Yates, Greenwood, McCarthy, Flanagan. Subs Pauli, Ikahihifo, Burke, Ackers.

Castleford Tigers: O’Brien, Olpherts, Foster, Shenton, Eden, Mata’utia, Richardson, Watts, McShane, Griffin, Holmes, McMeeken, Massey. Subs Millington, Milner, Moors. Unused Turner.

Referee: Robert Hicks (Oldham).

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Laura Collins