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Cook try gives Leigh victory over Castleford

Betfred Super League

Castleford (8) 14

Tries: Qareqare, Lawler Goals: Weaver 3

Leigh (12) 24

Tries: Alick-Wiencke, I Senior, Hughes, Cook Goals: Cook 4

Leigh continued their march up the Super League table with a fifth victory in six games as Adam Cook's gift try 14 minutes from time sank Castleford.

The Tigers were pressing hard having fought back to within four points through a second-half try from George Lawler.

But a fumble from Daejarn Asi allowed Cook, who also kicked four goals, a free run in from 40 metres out to put the game out of reach.

Castleford were on the wrong end of a couple of key decisions from referee Liam Moore but ultimately only had themselves to blame after seeing their hopes of a third successive win go up in smoke.

It is now eight games without a win against Leigh for Castleford despite their fast start through Fijian wing Jason Qareqare who followed up his hat-trick against St Helens with a try in the left-hand corner after just 90 seconds from a lovely pass from Krystian Mapapalangi.

Tom Weaver's excellent conversion made it 6-0 and the Australian half-back added an 18th-minute penalty.

But Leigh, inspired by prop Joe Ofahengaue who made 19 carries and 30 tackles, hit back with two tries in the space of three minutes to take a lead they never relinquished.

The first, in the 23rd minute, came from Jacob Alick-Wiencke after he handed off Mapapalangi to score but there was an element of controversy about it with the Leopards being contentiously handed the position to strike after Cas had been pulled back for obstruction by Asi as Qareqare broke clear.

Then Innes Senior went over in the opposite corner for his sixth Super League try of the season from a Bailey Hodgson pass.

Four minutes after half-time, Jack Hughes, who moments earlier had been fortunate to escape sanction for an elbow on Mapapalangi on the ground, extended the Leopards' lead from a slick ball from Isaac Liu.

Lawler, on his 100th appearance for Castleford, reacted quickest to threaten a comeback after Zac Cini had won the ball in the air from Asi's kick.

But their momentum evaporated with the soft score for Cook and with Leigh's goalline defence determined there was no way back.

Castleford: Laulu-Togaga'e; L Senior, Cini, Mapapalangi, Qareqare; Asi, Weaver; Lane, Lawler, Mellor, Stimson, Dupree, Golding.

Interchanges: Atoni, Greacen, Hall, Robb.

Leigh: Armstrong; I Senior, Hodgson, Hughes, Charnley; Cook, Lam; Ofahengaue, Ipape, Mulhern, Halton, Alick-Wiencke, Liu.

Interchanges: Brogan, Pene, O'Brien, Horne.

Referee: Liam Moore.

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