Castleford Tigers scored seven tries to pull off a 40-28 victory over Bradford Bulls in round six of Super League at The OneBore Stadium.
The clash between Castleford and Bradford was one of the fixtures from the opening weekend of Super League 30 years ago and so it was only fitting that it opened the birthday party on Thursday night.
It is the Tigers who will be celebrating their first successive home wins since April 2024. Castleford head coach Ryan Carr had asked for a response after his side's 72-6 thumping from Warrington Wolves last week and that he got to pick up just their second win of the season.
Castleford had a slender 22-16 lead at the break thanks to a Jason Qareqare hat-trick and Darnell McIntosh walk in, Tom Weaver converting three out of the four efforts.
Bradford had hit back through a converted Esan Marsters try, two Luke Hooley penalty conversions, and a Joe Mellor finish but went in behind in the high-scoring contest.
Castleford then extended their lead into a strong one with a flurry of tries, George Lawler, Tom Weaver, and McIntosh's second moved the home outfit 24 points ahead.
Bradford managed to cut the gap slightly as Hooley went over but the mountain was too big to climb when Marsters went in with just two minutes remaining on the clock, the 40-28 scoreline showing just how they had fallen apart either side of half-time.
It was clear from early in the contest that both Castleford and Bradford were going to throw the ball around and with that intent, there was an early try in just the second minute.
Bradford sent the kick up and Marsters proved stronger than Qareqare in the air to wrestle control and dive over. Hooley converted for a 6-0 lead.
It took only five minutes for Castleford to hit back as Qareqare made up for his mistake and went over for his first by using his speed on the edge, Weaver adding the extras to bring the scores level.
There was no point an arm wrestle didn't happen as discipline gave away crucial territory for both outfits.
It was Bradford who took quick advantage of their penalties on the 16th and 19th minute for a high shot and late hit, both on Andy Ackers. Hooley slotted them both over to move the visitors 10-6 in front.
However, it took only six minutes for Qareqare to go in for an identical effort to his first, Weaver converting to give the Tigers a slender 12-10 advantage.
The lead continued to change hands, Bradford the next side going in as Ed Chamberlain combined with Mellor for a brilliant effort, Hooley staying perfect with the boot once again.
The game looked set to be level at 16-16 at the break after McIntosh walked in on the edge for Castleford but Qareqare brilliance struck again.
With just seconds on the clock, the Tigers shipped it out to the winger who put on the after burners to go in for his hat-trick. As Weaver converted with no time remaining, Castleford had secured a slender 22-16 advantage at the break.
After that late flurry in the first half, it did not take long for Castleford to go in again. This time, off the back of a penalty for a high shot on Qareqare, they worked it to the middle and Lawler used his strength to barrel over and stretch out to score. Weaver converted for 28-16.
With one came two as Weaver himself took the spoils this time by befuddling the defence with a dummy before converting his own effort for a 34-16 lead after 45 minutes.
The onslaught continued when just five minutes later, McIntosh walked in for his second and Weaver came through with a clutch kick from the touchline to put the Tigers 40-16 up. The floodgates had opened and Bradford were struggling to close them.
Bradford had 20 minutes to score four unanswered tries to get back into contest and the first of those came on the 60th minute as they sent it put wide to Hoole in the corner before he sent over the kick to bring the score to 40-22.
The visitors thought that the second had come on the 69th minute when they went out to the left edge and Blake backed himself to not use Ryan on the edge and slide in to score. However, a video referee check ruled it out for an obstruction in the build-up.
They did manage to get another with just two minutes on the clock as Marsters went in for his second and Hooley converted to bring the score to 40-28 but it was too little too late as Kurt Haggerty's side fell to their third loss.
Castleford Tigers head coach Ryan Carr, speaking on Your Site+:
"That was the performance we were after. It's been a big week for us as a group and as a club.
"A mate texted me saying the comeback is always greater than the setback, and that couldn't have been more true.
"We were looking for a response, and one game doesn't define you - it's what you do after that. I'm proud of the team."
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