Tigers claim shock win

The Tigers turned the table on its head to inflict on their neighbours a first defeat since their play-off reverse at St Helens in September, despite a hat-trick of tries from winger Scott Donald.

Cas shocked the champions with their enthusiasm and no little skill after conceding the opening try of the match and left the field to a standing ovation from the 9,459 crowd.

Their heroes were three-quarters Stuart Donlan and Michael Shenton, who scored three tries between them on their return from injury.

Leeds coach Brian McClennan, who gave a debut to prop Luke Burgess, sprang a surprise by opting for Jordan Tansey at stand-off in place of the injured Danny McGuire in order to leave skipper Kevin Sinfield at loose forward.

The game appeared to be going to form when the champions went in front on 16 minutes as Donald went over and Kevin Sinfield added the goal but Castleford hit back just four minutes later through Joe Westerman.

Donlan then went over for a try on his first game back from injury and Luke Dorn soon followed with Westerman landing his first conversion of the night.

The prospects of an upset soared when Castleford made a sensational start to the second half, with the returning Michael Shenton scoring two tries within three minutes of the restart and Westerman managed to land the second conversion.

The Rhinos were stung into action and they responded with two tries in seven minutes, both from Donald but Sinfield was wide with both conversion attempts and the Tigers pulled ahead again on 61 minutes when full-back Ryan McGoldrick sliced clean through the visitors' defence for a sixth try.

Westerman edged his side further in front with a penalty before Tansey scored a consolation try for the Rhinos but Castleford finished in total control, with Dorn racing in for his side's seventh try, and Westerman took his goal tally to five from eight attempts.