The RFL

Paul Deacon missed a last-gasp conversion as Castleford Tigers edged a topsy-turvy engage Super League encounter 40-38 against Bradford Bulls this afternoon.

Ben Jeffries had crossed with seconds remaining to give the Bulls the chance to claim a draw from an entertaining but scrappy clash at the Grattan Stadium.

Castleford surrendered leads of 12-4 and 34-22 at various stages while the Bulls had been 22-12 in front at half-time.

Both sides scored seven tries but Dean Widders’ remarkable 80-metre interception score with seven minutes remaining ultimately proved decisive. Joe Westerman landed six goals for the visitors.

Castleford first went ahead after Semi Tadulala lost a Rangi Chase kick under pressure and Michael Shenton pounced.

Tadulala soon made amends after a Castleford mistake at the restart allowed the Bulls to go straight back on the attack.

Fiji winger Tadulala was on hand to finish in the corner and a good break by Chris Nero moments later almost created a chance for Terry Newton to give the Bulls the lead.

The Tigers responded strongly with a Ryan McGoldrick pass putting Chase over by the posts.

Westerman’s second conversion gave the visitors a 12-4 lead but Bradford hit back with three more tries to take a 10-point lead into the break.

Dave Halley claimed the first of them from a Paul Deacon pass after another Tigers error at a restart offered the Bulls a way back into the game.

Newton, linked with a move to Wakefield Wildcats this week, put Nick Scruton over for his first Bulls try and Halley was denied a second when another Newton pass was ruled forward.

Halley showed his defensive qualities to keep out opposing full-back Richard Owen before the Bulls finished the first half with a flourish.

Ben Jeffries found a gap in the Tigers defence and Michael Worrincy completed the attack by outpacing Shenton and Kirk Netherton to the line.

Remarkably, Bradford surrendered their position of dominance by conceding four tries within the opening 13 minutes of the second half.

The first was almost a carbon copy of the opener as Tadulala missed a Chase kick and Shenton this time set up youngster Jordan Thompson.

Tadulala missed a tackle in Castleford’s next attack and Shenton cut inside for his second.

A brilliant Halley tackle denied Mike Wainwright but the Tigers were not kept out for long as Chase sold Deacon a dummy to cross for his second.

The capitulation continued as McGoldrick sent Westerman on his way to the line with a clever pass.

The momentum shifted back in Bradford’s favour as Deacon set up Burgess and Jeffries went over from a Newton pass to level the scores at 34-34.

Widders put Cas back in front by picking off a Newton pass and sprinting most of the length of the field.

There was still time for one last twist as Halley’s break set up Jeffries but Deacon was unable to add the goal.