Tenth placed Castleford Tigers hosted third placed Hull FC in the opening game of round six of Super League as Danny McGuires side looked to build on the only win of the season for the side from the Jungle against an Airlie Birds side with their eye on second spot and edging close to their arch enemy, Hull KR at the top of the table.

Castleford have picked up the points on the last three meeting between the two sides, but 2025 is very different for both with Hull FC seemingly on the rise while the Tigers are struggling to find any sort of early season form.

The Tigers had a six-point advantage on the handicap coupon, the bookies forecasting a Hull FC win but not by a landslide.

The Tigers set out their stall early on as they took the game to Hull, but it was the visitors who took the lead on nine minutes when Herman Ese’ese muscled his way over the line despite the attention of three Tigers defenders, the big man spinning out of the tackle and dropping to the ground. Aiden Sezer added the conversion for a 6-0 lead, the Black & White’s getting over the line with their first attack of the game.

A nicely worked try, completed by Rowan Milnes, put the home side on the board. The ball was moved between a number of pairs of hands before Milnes supported Josh Simm on the inside to take the pass and go in from ten metres. Milnes added the conversion to level the scores.

Sezer turned poacher on twenty-seven as he scored under the sticks, but the try was created by Ese’ese and Tom Briscoe who burst through the line and went for forty metres before offloading. Sezer converted his own try for 12-6.

Castleford were awarded a penalty just a couple of metres from the Hull line after a second effort in the tackle but despite some expansive play the Tigers were penalised for an incorrect play the ball.

Rather that going level, the Tigers conceded again as Hull went ninety metres with Tom Briscoe taking a John Asiata miss-out pass to ghost down the right touchline and ground in the corner. Sezer nailed the kick from the right line for 18-6 at the break.

Innes Senior was sin-binned for a strike to the head on Zac Cini and seconds later, with three minutes on the second half clock, Lewis Martin took full advantage of the additional man on the overlap, to cross and score a simple try in the left corner.

Numbers were level at twelve each on fifty when Amir Burouh was sin-binned for dropping a player in a dangerous position.

Tom Briscoe spilled the ball on the line on fifty-one to miss out on a second try of the night.

After a brief lull, Hull upped the pace again and after good pressure they were awarded a penalty of sixty-five, Sezer kicking the two points to extend the lead to three converted tries.

With nine minutes remaining a moment of magic from Tex Hoy saw the Tigers full back score from sixty metres out on the left corner. The Hoy kick went wide, Castleford still fourteen adrift.

A Hull knock-on under the high kick opened the door for the third Castleford try, Simm taking a looping pass from the back of the scrum to score in the corner on the overlap. Hoy was short with the conversion attempt for a final score of 14-24.

It was a comfortable win for Hull, despite a little flourish from the home side in the dying minutes. Ese’ese did all the damage down the middle as he ran rampant and the boot of Sezer ensure that fours were turned into sixes. There were some bright moments for Castleford but not enough for them to cause any concern for the Airlie Birds.

Castleford Tigers: Hoy (T, G 0/2), Simm (T), Cini, Wood, Senior (SB on 43), Asi, Milnes (T, G 1/1), Lawler, Rimbu, Singleton, Hodson, Mellor, Westerman. Subs: Robb, Griffin, Mustapha, Okoro. 18^th Man: Horne.

Hull FC: Rapana, Briscoe (T), Litten, Chamberlain, Martin (T), Cust, Sezer (T, G 4/5), Ese’ese (T), Bourouh (SB on 50), Knight, Fash, Lane, Asiata. Subs: Ashworth, Moy, Kirby, Eseh. 18^th Man: Salabio (Used).

Half-Time: 6-18.

Full-Time: 14-24.  

Score Progression: 0-4, 0-6, 4-6, 6-6, 6-10, 6-12, 6-16, 6-18 : HT: (SB), 6-22, (SB), 6-24, 10-24, 14-24 :FT.

Lead Exchanges: Hull – Square - Hull.

Referee: Liam Moore.