Castleford 32-0 Hull KR: Tigers keep Robins to nil at home
Jake Mamo and Jason Qareqare both grabbed braces as Castleford thrashed Hull KR 32-0 to leapfrog the Robins into sixth place in Super League.
The Tigers notched four tries in an electric first half and added another two in the second to blow struggling Hull KR away at the Mend-A-Hose Jungle.
The Robins were knocked out of the Challenge Cup last weekend and have now lost three games in a row.
Gareth O’Brien kicked four from seven attempts at goal, while George Griffin and Kenny Edwards crossed for tries and Mamo and Qareqare claimed doubles.
Match report
Hull KR managed the first attack of the game, but it was thwarted by strong defence from Castleford.
The Tigers then marched the Rovers down the field and opened the scoring when Griffin barged over off a dubious pass from Paul McShane.
O’Brien nailed the conversion from in front to give the Tigers an early 6-0 lead.
Watts sin bin
However, the hosts made it difficult for themselves when Liam Watts was sent to the sin bin for a high tackle on Lachlan Coote.
Several minutes later Coote busted his way over the try-line, but the Tigers battled well to hold him up and keep him from scoring.
Dean Hadley was then forced from the field for a concussion tackle after suffering a heavy knock.
Hull KR looked for a way back into the game but too often their ball-handling and skill execution let them down.
A lovely step and cut inside from Edwards gave Castleford their second try, with O’Brien’s conversion making it 12-0.
From the kick-off the Tigers increased their lead. Derrell Olpherts broke away into space in his own half and offloading to Mamo for his opening try.
O’Brien made no mistake with his kick and at 18-0 the Robins were in big trouble with the match slipping away from their grasp.
But it went bad from worse when speedster Qareqare was released out wide by Edwards and he rounded Coote easily to grab his team’s fourth try of the afternoon.
It was brilliant footwork from the young winger but O’Brien sliced his conversion attempt, leaving the score at 22-0.
When Ben Crooks was penalised for offside four minutes from the break, the half-back stepped up and made no mistake with his kick to make it 24-0.
As half-time approached Hull KR needed a miracle to get their way back into the contest.
HT: Castleford Tigers 24-0 Hull KR
The second half started badly for the visitors though. Mamo intercepted Rowan Milnes’ pass to race away 90 metres downfield and score his second.
Brad Takairangi injured himself while trying to stop Mamo and then hobbled from the field, while O’Brien missed his conversion.
Ethan Ryan went close to finally getting the Robins on the scoresheet, but smart defence forced him into touch.
Hull KR were enjoying more of the ball but could just not break down a committed wall of Castleford defenders.
Twelves minutes from full-time, Qareqare dived over in the left-hand corner to complete the rout.
FT: Castleford Tigers 32-0 Hull KR
Castleford: Hampshire; Olpherts, Mamo, Fonua, Qareqare; Trueman, O’Brien, Watts, McShane, Griffin, Lawler, Edwards, Westerman. Subs: Milner, Massey, Smith, Matagi.
Tries: Griffin, Edwards, Mamo (2), Qareqare (2) Goals: O’Brien 4
Hull KR: Coote; Ryan, Crooks, Kenny-Dowall, Hall; Takairangi, Milnes; Maher, Parcell, King, Johnson, Keinhorst, Hadley. Subs: Storton, Litten, Sims, Richards.
Tries: Goals:
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