Castleford suffer relegation

Wakefield pulled off the great escape on a night of high drama to condemn neighbours Castleford to relegation for the second time in three years with their 29-17 victory.

The Wildcats were 8-1 on with the bookmakers to go down when John Kear took over the reins two months ago but Saturday night's heart-stopping win in a match worth £1million to the victors was their fourth in six matches as they reached the target set by the coach with the midas touch.

The eagerly-awaited clash, played in front of 11,000 fans shoe-horned into Belle Vue and others perched on rooftops overlooking the famous ground, lived up to all expectations.

It was every bit as close as expected, with Wakefield just about deserving their success after holding their nerve and ending Castleford's brave resistance with two tries in the last 15 minutes.

It was a sad way for Castleford captain Danny Nutley to bow out of the English game while assistant coach Brad Davis found himself on the losing side on a last-day decider for the second time.

Jamie Rooney kicked the home side into an early lead after Castleford forward Richard Fletcher had been penalised for a high tackle on Wakefield scrum-half Ben Jeffries. But it was the visitors who scored the first try of an action-packed first half, with second rower Willie Manu pouncing on a Danny Brough grubber kick after defender David Solomona had been slow to react.

Brough made it 6-2 with the conversion but there was a touch of controversy when Jeffries slipped a tackle from Danny Ward and went 70 metres to the line only to have the try disallowed by video referee Ian Ollerton for obstruction in back play.

It looked a harsh call but at least Wakefield were spared further punishment when Brough missed his kick at goal from the resultant penalty. However, the decision looked an even bigger call five minutes later when Tigers full-back Michael Platt cut a great swathe through the heart of the home side's defence.

He was eventually stopped but defenders were still retreating when winger Adam Fletcher went from acting half and sprinted 30 metres to the corner for a second Castleford try.

Brough was again wide with the goal attempt but increased his side's lead to 11-2 with a drop goal before Wakefield struck back with two tries in the last 10 minutes of the half, despite the loss of full-back Colum Halpenny with concussion.