Harland punishes Broncos

London 20 Castleford 24

The Broncos missed the chance to go into the play-off places, Lee Harland's late try making sure that Castleford would win two in a row for the first time in a year.

London had a wealth of chances, but paid for their untidy finishing, Nigel Roy's effort for the home side coming too late to rescue them.

There was quality written all over London's opening try after four minutes, starting with Steve Hall's rampaging run down the field and ending when Jim Dymock passed through his legs like a contortionist for Russell Bawden to put Tony Martin in at the corner. Martin converted from the touchline and the Broncos were off at the gallop.

Sylvain Houles had a try disallowed for a forward pass after some equally fluent handling, but Castleford came back at them after neither Martin nor Paul Sykes could tidy up a kick stabbed through by Michael Eagar. Darren Rogers swooped for his ninth try of the season and Wayne Bartrim's kick levelled.

London continued to look the more threatening side with Mat Toshack held over the line and Dymock stopped just short, whilst Cas lost the influential Eagar with a dislocated elbow before going close through Michael Smith.

Smith was also instrumental in the Tigers taking the lead on the half hour, getting his pass away for Mitch Healey, whose kick seemed to be running dead before Danny Orr dashed through to touch down just before the line.

London went close on a couple of occasions, but Castleford finished the half ahead against the run of play when Rogers intercepted from Dennis Moran and raced 90 yards to score. It would have been worse still for the Broncos if Waine Pryce had not dipped a toe in touch on the stroke of half time.

Castleford's defence stood up to losing Dean Sampson to the sin bin for knocking the ball away, and they even extended their lead through Bartrim's third goal, only for Broncos' Bowden to reply.

Martin's goal reduced the gap to six points and he made further inroads with a penalty after Adrian Rainey hung on in the tackle, but Harland's try from Bartrim's kick-through put Castleford in control, in spite of Roy's effort two minutes from time.

London: P Sykes; Houles, Martin, Roy, Hall; Dymock, Moran; Bawden, Budworth, Marshall, Retchless, Toshack, Purdham. Substitutes used: Gillett, Stephenson, Shaw, Price.

Castleford: Lennon; Pryce, Eagar, Johnson, Rogers; Orr, Healey; Norman Sykes, Bartrim, Lynch, Warren, Fritz, Harland. Substitutes used: Mather, Sampson, Smith, Rainey.

Referee: R Silverwood (Mirfield).