Season: 25/26

Castleford RUFC Vs Hornsea

Match Report: Castleford RUFC 35–12 Hornsea RUFC

Castleford RUFC delivered a commanding performance to claim a 35–12 victory over Hornsea RUFC, showcasing a blend of power up front and sharp execution in the backs.

Full back McKenzie Coulson opened the scoring with a superb solo try, cutting through the Hornsea defence to touch down under the posts. Winger Ben Mayes soon added a second after a great break by Charlie Barker, before fellow winger Lex Leadeatt finished off a sweeping counterattack to give Castleford a strong lead.

Joao Balde powered over from close range after sustained pressure from the forwards, and Charlie Kaye added a fifth try with a neat finish in midfield.

The pack set the platform throughout, with Dec Hobson, Joao Balde and Liam Hands outstanding in the tight exchanges and breakdown. Their dominance up front gave fly half Mikey Firth the space to control the game superbly — his game management, distribution, and kicking earning him the Player of the Match award.

Hornsea battled hard, but Castleford’s composure and cohesion ensured a comfortable and well-earned victory.

Castleford RUFC vs Burley

Match Report: Castleford RUFC edged out 18-17 by Burley RUFC
Castleford RUFC suffered a narrow 18-17 defeat away at Burley RUFC in a fiercely contested encounter that went right to the final whistle.
Tries from captain Mark Poppleton, colt Lex Leadeatt—on a memorable senior debut—and back rower Liam Hands had Castleford in control for large parts of the game. However, the momentum shifted midway through the second half when Castleford were reduced to 13 men following red cards to Ian Mattison and Kyle Kesik.
Despite the numerical disadvantage, Castleford continued to battle bravely, with the defence standing strong under sustained Burley pressure.
Player of the Match honours were shared between two outstanding colts: Joao Balde, who was a physical presence throughout in the back row, and Leadeatt, whose pace and composure made a big impact on the wing.

Castleford RUFC vs Corinthians

Castleford RUFC Edge Past Leeds Corinthians in Gritty Encounter
Castleford RUFC 9 – 7 Leeds Corinthians
Castleford RUFC secured a hard-fought 9-7 victory over Leeds Corinthians in a closely contested fixture, thanks to the accurate boot of scrum-half Ian Mattison, who slotted three penalties to seal the win.
In a match where scoring chances were at a premium, skipper Mark Poppleton made the decision to take the points that were on offer. Ian Mattison kept his cool to convert all three of his penalty attempts, with the home side’s discipline and forward dominance helping to create the opportunities.
Winger Max Lambourne made an impressive debut, showing pace and intent out wide, while centre Jordan Rice marked his return to the squad with a series of strong carries that helped Castleford gain crucial territory throughout the match.
The Castleford forward pack were outstanding from the first whistle to the last, setting the platform with dominant scrummaging and aggressive work at the breakdown. Back rower Kean Hiscock was particularly influential, leading from the front with relentless energy and physicality — earning him a well-deserved player of the match award.
Despite a late try from Leeds Corinthians which narrowed the margin, Castleford’s defence held firm in the closing stages to secure an important win in front of their home supporters

Castleford RUFC vs Rotherham Phoenix

Castleford RUFC First team play Rotherham Phoenix on Saturday 27th September 3pm Kick off @ The Insulation Direct Arena, Whitwood Common Lane, Castleford, WF10 5PD

Free Entry, food and refreshments available.

Hemsworth RUFC vs Castleford RUFC

 

Result: Hemsworth RUFC 41 – 36 Castleford RUFC

Castleford RUFC narrowly fell short in a thrilling contest away at Hemsworth, losing 41-36 in a dramatic game that was decided on the very last play. Despite a spirited and skillful performance from the visitors, Hemsworth clinched the win with a try deep into injury time.

Castleford came out firing and matched Hemsworth’s physicality up front, with Kean Hiscock, Jordan McCoy, and Mikey Firth putting in standout performances against a big and aggressive Hemsworth pack. Firth was particularly impressive, capping off his afternoon with a well-earned try, showcasing power and determination from close range.

The Castleford backs were in scintillating form, playing with pace, width, and flair. Centre Kyle Kesik crossed the whitewash after a quick hands close to the blindside, winger Charlie Kaye added another with a well-finished effort out wide, chasing his own kick through after a smart blind side switch. However, it was Brad Moules who stole the show, grabbing two brilliant tries and earning the Player of the Match honours for his relentless attacking threat and solid defence.

Fly-half Ian Mattison kept the scoreboard ticking, converting four of the five tries and adding a penalty to round out Castleford’s 36 points.

The game swung back and forth with both sides trading scores throughout. Castleford looked to have done enough heading into the final minutes, but Hemsworth remained patient and clinical. Their persistence paid off in the dying moments, crashing over for the decisive try and sealing a dramatic 41-36 victory.

Despite the loss, Castleford can take plenty of positives from a hard-fought and entertaining performance, especially against a strong and physical opponent.

A well-fought battle – congratulations to Hemsworth RUFC on their victory. Castleford will regroup and look ahead to the cup game in two weeks time.