Friday 25 July 2014 08:05, UK
Castleford coach Daryl Powell admitted his side were lucky to get a point after scoring three late tries to snatch an 18-18 draw with Hull at the KC Stadium.
The home side looked to have secured a first win in six matches when they led 18-4 for most of the second half, but Hull-bound stand-off Marc Sneyd sparked a remarkable fightback with a try before producing kicks that enabled right winger James Clare to touch down twice in the last seven minutes.
"It was a point gained, that one," Powell said. "We didn't start playing until well into the second half.
"I thought Hull were really good, they obviously responded to what happened to them last week. They had a bit more energy and a bit more intent and looked like they wanted to win it a bit more than us tonight.
"We were a bit lacklustre for large periods. We just couldn't get any flow into our game but when we need to play well, we've scored more tries than anybody else in the last 20 minutes this year so there's always a chance.
"You can't question the team's character. They've been fantastic again. We probably didn't deserve it but we've had a couple of others where we have deserved it and not got it so on balance we've probably got a square ledger at the moment."
Sneyd had created Castleford's first-half try for skipper Michael Shenton and in the last quarter demonstrated why Hull paid Salford a £100,000 transfer fee to prize him away from the Tigers, with whom he is spending a season-long loan.
"Sneydy pulled a couple of rabbits out of the hat," Powell said. "They were quality pieces of play that got us points. He's got an instinct about him that he displayed at the back end."
Sneyd's contribution brought a bittersweet reaction from Hull coach Lee Radford, who is looking forward to having his services from next season.
"He had a quiet 40 minutes but he really came to the party," Radford said. "So it was pleasing long-term but disappointing short-term."
Radford had labelled his side an "embarrassment" after their 56-10 hammering by Wigan a week earlier but was delighted with their response.
They were lifted by the return of skipper Gareth Ellis and a man-of-the-match display by loose forward Joe Westerman, while 18-year-old stand-off Jordan Abdull capped an accomplished performance with his first try for the club.
Centre Kirk Yeaman and winger Fetuli Talanoa also scored tries for Hull, who were a rejuvenated side from the start.
"When you've been leading for such a long period, to lose at the end is really disappointing," Radford said.
"But on a positive note, I thought we were physically really dominant, which is really pleasing.
"Last week I was embarrassed but this week I'm proud.
"We are going to look at some crucial points that burned us towards the end, but we had effort and intent and if you bring that every week you are going to win more than you lose."
Hull lost much of their momentum when scrum-half Jordan Rankin went off with a knee injury six minutes into the second half while Abdull was carried off on a stretcher five minutes from the end after a collision with Castleford forward Weller Hauraki.
"It's not good for a 17-year-old to be going for an x-ray on his neck," Radford said.
