Crusaders 30-24 Castleford

Crusaders gave their top eight chances a major boost with a tense 30-24 victory over play-off rivals Castleford.

Half-back Jarrod Sammut was the gamewinner, scoring the deciding try with less than five minutes on the clock after the home side had turned the game on its head in the final ten minutes.

In-form Castleford looked like adding to their run of victories when Joe Westerman and Dean Widders gave them an early 12-0 lead, but Brian Noble’s men dug in, and were level at the break through Rhys Hanbury and Jordan James.

In their first game in South Wales since their move north to Wrexham, Crusaders took the lead in the second half through Weller Hauraki, and Clinton Schifcofske‘s conversion put them 18-12 to the good.

The Tigers weren’t ready to give up and levelled things up through Michael Shenton, before Rangi Chase‘s score on 69 minutes put the visitors 24-18 to the good.

But the see-saw scoring continued and Tony Martin‘s converted try tied things up at 24-24 to set up a frantic finish, before Sammut had the final say, crossing between the posts for a converted try and earn his side a valuable two points.