Saints U19s produced probably their most dominant performance of the season so far to beat a far bigger Tigers side 35-16.

Again missing numerous first choice starters, the Saints outplayed their opponents both with and without the ball.

The game started poorly for the Saints conceding a try to the home side’s first real attack. A poor last tackle kick saw the Tigers quickly on the offensive and scoring on the last from dummy half as the marker defence went to sleep.

But the response of the side was wonderful and from that point on the Tigers were kept at bay.

On their next set a Ryan Horne 50 metre break went begging as the support failed to materialise but a Jack Welsby grubber keenly chased as ever by Josh Simm got the saints a repeat set.

Another repeat set followed causing the defence to finally crack. Jake Wingfield was held up over the line and as the ball was spread wide to the right Joe Sharratt forced his way over in the corner.

The Saints were on top now charging down the slope at the Jungle forcing error after error from the Tigers.

Firstly, Tom Nisbet went close down the left but lost the ball at the line before another knock on led to the Saints second try. From the scrum under the posts on the Cas 10 metre line Jack Welsby went over handing off the would be tackler.

Despite all the Saints dominance it was nip and tuck going into the final ten minutes but all that pressure finally tolled yielding two tries.

The first was Sharratt’s second as the big centre strolled under the posts untouched from 30 metres out taking a delightful short ball from Callum Hazzard.

The second, and the Saints fourth of the half, came on the half-time whistle with Tom Nisbet stepping his way through the defence after yet another Tigers error.

Knowing that the Tigers had been heavily beaten in their previous game against Widnes, it was even more evident that they would be smarting from their first half display and would come out all guns blazing in the second. So it was even more essential not to throw that advantage away by starting poorly after the interval.

The game was effectively put to bed two minutes in as the U19s much maligned short kicking game again produced the goods with another repeat set from Welsby.

Four tackles later and Nisbet was sending Simm into the corner.

Ryan Horne showed his increasing awareness on the pitch as he shot out of defence to save a certain try. But from the resulting scrum the Tigers moved the ball quickly to the right scoring on the overlap.

The game remained scoreless for the next 20 minutes with the Tigers throwing everything at the Saints disciplined defensive line to little effect.

However, as the game entered the final 10 minutes the Tigers gave themselves a glimmer of hope scoring under the posts to get within two scores.

But any lingering hope was soon extinguished. Hazzard missed with a penalty for holding down but won a repeat set having kicked it dead.

The Saints showed maturity driving the ball to the Cas posts before Welsby coolly slotted the drop goal from 30 metres out.

The final act of the game saw Simm go over benefitting from his own hack and chase to get yet another repeat set.

Make no mistake this was a good Castleford side which was made to look average by a great Saints display.

Completion rates of 90% in both halves were the cornerstones of the dominance.

Big minutes from Brandon Scully and Ben Sims off the bench backed up the good work of Jorge Lewtas and Sam Royle.

Paul Nash and Jake Wingfield gave good direction from dummy half, coupled with yet another good performance from Ryan Horne giving Jack Welsby free reign to do his thing.

There was also yet another Captain’s knock from Callum Hazzard again leading by example.

Match Summary:

Castleford U19s:
Tries: Jacques O’Neill (4), Lewis Carr (50), Eddie Wilcock (69).
Goals: Harry Williams 2 from 3.

Saints U19s:
Tries: Joe Sharratt (11 & 32), Jack Welsby (24), Tom Nisbett (39), Josh Simm (42 & 79).
Goals: Callum Hazzard 5 from 6.
Drop Goals: Jack Welsby (75).

Half Time: 6-22
Full Time: 16-35

Teams:

Castleford:
1. Calum Turner; 5. Lewis Carr, 4. Jack Render, 3. Jacob Doyle, 2. Tom Crossland; 6. Joe Fella, 7. Harry Williams; 8. Sam Dore, 9. Jacques O’Neill, 10. Shay North, 11. Robbie Storey, 12. Lewis Peachey, 13. Ben Dobson.
Subs: 14. Eddie Wilcock, 15. Liam Slicker, 16. Tom Hall, 17. Evan Morris.

Saints:
1. Tom Nisbet; 5. John Hutchings, 3. Joe Sharratt, 4. Josh Simm, 2. Sean Croston; 6. Jack Welsby, 7. Ryan Horne; 8. Jorge Lewtas, 9. Jake Wingfield, 10. Callum Hazzard (C), 11. Kye Siyani, 12. Sam Royle, 13. Chris Follin.
Subs: 14. Paul Nash, 15. Ben Sims, 16. Brandon Scully, 17. Chris Kellett.

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