Super League: Castleford Tigers 6-20 Leigh – Leopards back to winning ways

Victory for Adrian Lam’s men moves them up to fifth in the Super League standings as they hit back after defeats by Hull KR and Wakefield, prior to winning in the return fixture against Trinity in the Challenge Cup last week.

Castleford, meanwhile, slipped to a sixth league defeat of the season and offered little to challenge their opponents until a late rally which led to Cini’s score.

Ipape’s opener came via some quick thinking from Robbie Mulhern in the build-up to gain significant ground, with the Leopards keeping the ball alive to send the hooker through to score.

The visitors went a further two points in front from Gareth O’Brien’s penalty kick after George Lawler was shown a yellow card for a tip tackle on Owen Trout in the 10th minute.

In a cagey opening half, Leigh added to their tally in impressive fashion when they fed McIntosh through to crash over with style and send the visitors in at the hooter with an unanswered 12-point lead.

Hodgson prospered from some fantastic quickfire build-up play from Leigh as he was guided through at the corner, but Gareth O’Brien missed his second successive conversion attempt.

O’Brien limped away after McIntosh’s second score, leaving the Leigh winger to attempt the kick for his own try, which he missed from a tight angle.

Castleford’s task was made harder midway through the second half as Namo was shown yellow for going in high on Liu.

Leigh’s Lachlan Lam confronted him in the aftermath, with Namo pushing him away and causing a melee between the two sides shortly before referee Chris Kendall sent him to the bin.

Despite his absence, a depleted Castleford avoided a scoreless evening as Cini collected a high kick before turning and grounding the ball in the latter stages of a night to forget for the Tigers.