Draw for Rishies after dramatic finale

Few sides will come away with points from Castleford and for a while that looked to be the visitors’ fate against the much heavier, aggressive home team.

The game became ill-tempered, but Rishworthians stuck to their guns to grab eight points in the last five minutes.

First Joe Billing kicked a penalty and then with the last move of the game left wing Anthony Shoesmith got in at the corner. Billing’s touchline conversion attempt hit the post.

Player-coach Chris Stone praised the character showed by his side as they fought to the end, their superior fitness telling in the final minutes as they ran the home side ragged.

They started well and from their kick-off, flanker Harvey Keighley-Payne stole the ball to set up a strong run by fellow back rower Nick Faulkner. He recycled it well and Shoesmith was stopped just short.

A neat run by right wing Matthew Hunt-Brown brought more Rishworthian pressure and a penalty for Billing to give them the lead.

Straight from the restart though they infringed and the lead was cancelled out.

Centre Taniela Bakoso caused panic in the Castleford defence every time he had the ball, but he was on hand in defence to deny the home side on the line.

Rishworthians were then pushed off the ball in the scrum and conceded a simple converted try.

Billing added a penalty just before the break to make it 13-6.

Shortly after the restart the home side increased their lead with a penalty.

Rishworthians had been guilty of failing to get the ball wide, but eventually replacement wing Rhys Town almost got in at the right corner.

The ball went back inside and replacement hooker Jack Smart made a telling break before the ball was sent out to the left for Shoesmith to dive in at the corner. Billing’s conversion bounced on the bar before going over to make it 16-13.

Just when Rishworthians seemed to be in the ascendancy, the home side scored, a missed tackle allowed them in for an unconverted try.

With 10 minutes left the visitors came back strongly and it was no surprise when Billing’s kick took Rishworthians to within five points.

James Clarke was bundled into touch just short of the line but with time running out a desperate clearance kick was gathered on his own 22 by Jack Ledgard.

He ran before putting in an excellent pass to Shoesmith and the speedy winger did the rest.

The seconds lost 50 – 21 at Copley to Yarnbury. Their points came from tries by Joel Broadbent, Kevan Heesom and Will Illingworth. Wes Aldridge kicked three conversions.