Leeds Rhinos 28 Castleford Tigers 24: Leeds pushed all the way by 12-man Cas

Tigers were a man down for 50 minutes after Oliver Holmes, reacting to something, shoved Richie Myler and then kicked out, sparking a melee.

When things had calmed down, referee Tom Grant showed the Tigers loose-forward a red card.

Even so, Castleford led until 11 minutes from time and it was a huge effort from the visitors, who had 11 players backing up from the win over Hull KR four days earlier.

They made their share of errors, but worked hard for each other and had real intent about the goal line defence, holding Rhinos players up over the whitewash numerous times.

For the most part Leeds – who included 16 of their Wembley side, but only five who played against St Helens last Friday – failed to make use of the extra man and going one-out too often, though when they did move the ball wide late on, they scored three tries.

Both sides led in the opening period, but the 12-12 interval scoreline was a fair reflection of a scrappy, low-quality half of rugby, high on effort, but lacking quality and punctuated by errors.

Holmes’ dismissal should have been the defining moment of the half – and the game – but a Leeds blunder and some quick thinking by Tigers meant the visitors had the momentum and they duly regained the lead at the start of the second half, hung on gamely and then set up a tense finish with a try in the final minute.

Defeat was tough on Tigers as a unit and two-try Greg Eden, ex-Leeds hooker Paul McShane and substitute forward Jesse Sene-Lefao in particular.

Tigers made a dream start, scoring inside three minutes, before Leeds had been in possession. At the end of the first set, Richie Myler spilled Danny Richardson’s towering kick and following the knock-on call the scrum-half again put boot to ball, this time with a clever grubber which deceived Myler, but was well read by Liam Watts who ran through to touch down.

A mistake also led to the game’s second try, on 13 minutes, Leeds taking advantage this time. Derrell Olpherts lost possession deep in Tigers territory, at the start of what would have been a seven-tackle set and Ava Seumanufagai powered over from close-range following a quick play-the-ball after a ferocious charge by Konrad Hurrell.

Seumanufagai had a storming game for Leeds, who were generally under-par, though Rhyse Martin also made an important contribution.

Myler got over the line after Leeds tapped a kickable penalty, but Mike McMeeken produced a superb tackle to prevent him grounding the ball and soon after that Eden crossed at the other end, but an earlier knock-on meant that didn’t count.

Leeds went ahead four minutes before the interval and then handed their advantage back in spectacular fashion right at the end of the half.

Gale dummied through for Leeds’ second try, in a set after he had been tackled late – after a kick – by McShane.

Martin’s second conversion made it 12-6 and it stayed that way until after the half-time hooter, when they shot themselves in the foot.

Rather than taking the tackle or setting for a drop goal, Leeds kept the ball alive and Cameron Smith hoofed up a kick which Tom Briscoe knocked down, for Eden to collect and race 70 metres unopposed. Rhinos had been in command, without having played well, but Richardson’s second goal levelled the scores and sent Tigers into the break as the happier side.

Tigers were close to snatching the lead at the start of the second half when they ran a powerplay, but Eden lost the ball just short of the line, in Gale’s last-ditch tackle.

The winger made no mistake moments later though, with a quality finish at the corner after quick hands between Richardson, Jake Trueman and Gareth O’Brien.

Again, Leeds contributed to their own downfall, as Alex Mellor knocked on trying to get out of Rhinos territory, then Tom Briscoe spilled a low kick and a touch handed Tigers another set. Richardson landed a magnificent touchline conversion, but Tigers were on the defensive after that.

A storming run by Hurrell almost got Leeds back on terms, but he was held up by a combination of Sene-Lefao and a post. Sene-Lefao was again involved when Matt Prior was held up on the next play and repeated his heroics in similar fashion on Myler, assisted by Trueman.

The big forward must have been shirking when Prior again and Cameron Smith got over the line, this time McShane led the defensive effort, but Tigers cracked on 63 minutes when Leeds moved the ball wide and Gale and Myler combined to send Liam Sutcliffe over.

There was no goal, but Leeds hit the front six minutes later through a good finish by Briscoe from Hurrell’s pass, after Olpherts knocked on on the first tackle near his own line. Martin seemed to have wrapped things up when he spotted a gap and went for it, also adding his fourth conversion.

A minute from time Tigers were awarded a penalty try, following a foul by Hurrell on Chase Blair under McShane’s kick. Richardson added the extras, but Leeds had done just enough. The penalty count was six-three in Leeds’ favour and they received four repeat sets to Cas’ two.