Why Castleford Tigers' Louis Senior avoided ban after yellow card: centre cleared to face Leeds Rhinos
Castleford Tigers coach Ryan Carr will feel he has been vindicated ahead of Sunday’s big derby at home to Leeds Rhinos.
Tigers are on a three-game losing run and Carr was left upset by some pivotal refereeing decisions in last Saturday’s 24-18 result at Leigh Leopards, which was a match he felt his men deserved to win. Tigers winger Jason Qareqare had two touchdowns ruled out and Castleford were reduced to 12 players late in the second half when centre Louis Senior was sin-binned for an alleged high tackle on David Armstrong.
Carr was seen on television footage shaking his head as the match officials left the pitch after the game and he was clearly baffled by the yellow card. The team boss didn’t directly criticise referee Liam Rush or his assistants, but admitted: “I don’t know what [Senior could have done].
“He is six foot six, he dipped his knees as low as he possibly could. I don’t understand that at all. I need to get some clarification on it, I suppose, but the two points is gone, unfortunately.”
The RFL’s match review panel clearly took a similar view when they studied the incident and Senior was not charged, so is eligible for this weekend’s derby. The Yorkshire Evening Post understands the panel felt there were no aggravating factors in the tackle and several mitigating circumstances, with Senior lowering his height and Armstrong effectively falling into his shoulder.
That will be little consolation to Carr, who is also sweating on injuries suffered by Krystian Mapapalangi during the warm-up and Jordan Lane in the second half.