Our Under 17’s Colts played Keighley on Sunday in the Yorkshire Cup Final. The lads gave their all but a strong Keighley defence held out after getting their noses in front earlier in the game. The lads played their hearts out and will be very proud of their achievements this season despite being piped to the post in the cup.

Final score: Castleford 0 – 7 Keighley

Best wishes to our Junior Colts who take on Keighley in the Under 17’s Yorkshire Colts Cup at Ilkley on 29th March (13:45 KO)

The lads have been a real power house at this level all season and rightly deserve a chance to bring silverware home.

Three of our under 16’s Girls turned out for Yorkshire this weekend against Cumbria at a very wet and cold Kirby Lonsdale. All three girls gave brilliant performances despite a few bumps and bruises along the way. They will now continue to rip it up with the Castleford squad until their next Yorkshire game against Cheshire in April.

Big congratulations to our Under 16’s Girls who have made it into the Yorkshire Plate final with a fantastic win over Malton last weekend. The girls are just awaiting to see who will join them in the final where they will try to replicate last year’s final successes.

Ilkley 10–24 Castleford U17 Colts

Castleford arrived at Stacks Field, Ilkley for the top of the table clash with confidence, enthusiasm, but—crucially—no outside centre. He, unfortunately, was locked in mortal combat with Google Maps, the A65, and possibly an elephant?!!!

Fortunately, Ilkley’s manager, kindly agreed to start 14 v 14, proving once again that Ilkley is the Switzerland of junior rugby.

In the early stages Ilkley came out sharp. Evasive running and a speculative kick, were met by some “firm” tackling from the Castleford boys. The referee, rightly, was not swayed by the enthusiastic home support and allowed the battle to continue unabated.From the ensuing scramble, Ilkley nearly scored, only for their winger to be flattened five yards out by the Castleford defender who moonlights as a human exocet missile.

Their lad needed air; Castleford needed a breather. Both got what they wanted.

Ilkley then made a personnel change bringing on a clearly popular figure to enthusiastic applause from the crowd. Fortunately, one of our own fan favourites entered the fray. Our awol centre had finally arrived, slightly dishevelled and muttering about wildlife and road closures. Numbers restored, the game resumed.

A penalty on our five‑metre line gave Ilkley their chance. Forwards thundering in, our goal line defence was heroic but ultimately tried too hard allowing Ilkley to power over. 5–0. Conversion missed, much to our relief.Our plucky league leaders and connoisseurs of mid game pressure, began to settle. Our wall like defence refusing to yield to a number of heavy engagements from the Ilkley pack. Finally our boys grit and determination paid off when we were awarded a kickable penalty which was slotted with the calm of a lad ordering a McFlurry. 5–3.

Then came the comedy. Ilkley’s pack turned over the restart and Ilkley charged up the field before throwing a perfect pass out wide, but mistaking the touch judge for one of their own and throwing the ball into touch, from which we politely accepted the lineout.However Ilkley quickly regrouped and some good footwork again saw them taking territory off of our boys as they struck again 10–3.With the break fast approaching, our props began to find their groove, one producing a run that some described as “barnstorming”, taking him under the sticks, conversion added, 10–10 at half-time.

The Cas lads regrouped and refocused. With lungs refilled, spirits rose and belief filled their hearts.

On resumption, twenty minutes of trench warfare followed. Tackles thudded, legs burned, but our defensive line operated like a medieval fortress—not pretty, but impossible to breach.Then came the moment, it was the wingers time to shine as we jinked 50 yards down field, leaving Ilkley defenders grasping at shadows, before finding support, finishing with the neatness of someone folding uniform for inspection. 10–17.Ilkley battered away, but our boys held firm. Eventually tempers boiled over culminating in a scuffle that saw both teams lose a player to the referee’s card for floating like a butterfly but stinging like a bit of a lost jellyfish. Tempers cooled, rugby resumed, Ilkley threw everything at our defensive line. Their lineout was sharp, their pack relentless, but our boys continued the hard but fair rhetoric, thwarting the Ilkley attack at every turn before clearing our line.With the clock ticking down, our lads broke free, gliding through the line, and touching down with the knowledge that the successful conversion would secure a well deserved victory and our place at the head of the league table.

Final score 10–24.

A brutal, breathless U17 clash where Ilkley showed their metal. The Castleford lads were stubborn at times but brilliant where required fuelled by grit, determination and the eternal mystery of the A65 elephant.

Castleford RUFC would like to honour a man whose name is woven into the very fabric of this club—Keith “Titch” Thompson.

Many will know he served as Club Captain for ten seasons between 1962 and 1974. But those dates barely scratch the surface of his contribution.

Keith was far more than a captain. He was a driving force, a motivator, and a leader who lifted everyone around him. Players like John Bennett, Johnny Ball and Alan Wandless will tell you how much he shaped their success.Keith relished the toughest contests—Yorkshire Cup battles against the likes of Wakefield, Morley, Bradford and Headingley. He was never intimidated, never overawed, and that confidence spread through every teammate who stood beside him. And yet, off the field, he was warm, sociable and respected by opponents and referees alike. Even now, former players from other clubs still ask first about Titch Thompson.

His achievements came despite the pressures of family life, business commitments, and the demands of an era when players raced from work after a 6am start just to make the coach on time. He never complained—he simply got on with it.

In the second half of his association with the club, Keith turned his energy to improving our Whitwood home ground. He led the installation of drainage, pumping systems, floodlights, and the major works needed for the second pitch. He inspired others to join in, and countless smaller improvements followed. One project especially close to his heart was the extension to the covered standing area—built to the highest standard, at minimal cost, and vital to our progress, and when the club faced its darkest financial days in the mid‑1980s, Keith was one of the few who stepped forward with generosity and quiet determination to help secure our future.

Keith Thompson was a leader, a worker, a supporter, and above all, a man utterly devoted to this club. His legacy is not just in what he built or the games he played, but in the spirit he passed on to all of us.

Keith’s funeral service will be held at Pontefract Crematorium on Monday, 16th February at 1.40 pm. Refreshments will be served at the Roundhill Working Men’s Club, WF10 5AE.

Castleford Under 16’s Girls Georgie and Sophie both put in strong performances on debut for Yorkshire Girls Under 16s who took on Durham on Sunday at York. The girls completed a two match win over the visitors with Georgie dominating the opposition with her trademark ‘big hit’ tackles and Sophie taking on allcomers in centre field.

The girls take on Northumberland next year where they will be joined by our third Yorkshire representative, Maya, who unfortunately had to miss the Durham game due to a head injury.

Our Junior Colts made the best of the better weather against a determined Ilkley team on Sunday afternoon. Three converted trys was enough to earn a 21 point to 12 victory in their first league game of the season.