Westerman boot earns derby victory for Cas

Wakefield 12 Castleford 20

Castleford moved ahead of their neighbours in the Super League's top eight with victory in a derby more notable for its competitiveness than its quality.

The combination of Rangi Chase and Dean Widders caught Wakefield cold at the start of each half. In a match of few clear-cut chances, that was enough to tilt the balance their way.

Wakefield and Castleford no longer play each other for the right to be in Super League, but to determine who will be in the better position for the end-of-season play-offs.

The game was only 70 seconds old when Cas edged ahead in that local contest. Chase, such an attacking asset for them in recent weeks, did the damage and the bulky Widders was there to score the try.

It took a knock-on from Ryan McGoldrick to give Wakefield the possession from which to level the scores, Danny Brough selling a dummy and crossing the line on a solo foray.

An undistinguished first half entered a period of deadlock, with Chase coming closest to breaking it when he lost the ball lunging for the line. Denied there, the Tigers did inch in front before the break when Brough was penalised for dissent and Joe Westerman put over his second goal.

The start to the second half was uncannily similar to the first. After Sean Gleeson had knocked-on, Chase again attacked the line and Widders again took his pass to go over.

Wakefield's response, after a conversion and a penalty from Westerman, was also a replay of previous events. Brough was again the man to go over, proving elusive near the line when he took Brad Drew's pass. That brought the Wildcats within four points, but before they could build any pressure Gleeson conceded a penalty for interfering in the tackle and Westerman made it a six-point margin.

Wakefield had their chance for a equalising try when Brough, the font of all their ideas, kicked high but Richard Moore could not feed the ball on to the unmarked men outside him.

In the last minute, Jason Demetriou showed frustration with a high tackle on Stuart Jones and Westerman's sixth goal completed the scoring.

Neither side had been at their best, but, as the Rugby League reminded both clubs this week, their Super League status depends less on their performances on the pitch than it does on the state of their grounds.

Wakefield: Blaymire; Grix, Gleson, Atkins, Murphy; Demetriou, Brough; Bibey, Obst, Korkidas, Snitch, Wilkes, Henderson. Substitutes used: Stosic, Moore, Ferguson, Drew.

Castleford: Owen; Wainwright, Shenton, Widders, Dixon; McGoldrick, Chase; Sargent, Hudson, Higgins, Huby, Clayton, Westerman. Substitutes used: Evans, Jones, Feather, Netherton.