Wakefield Trinity thrash Castleford Tigers 48-6 in one-side Magic Weekend derby

Trinity had absolutely no trouble walloping their error-ridden and lethargic neighbours 48-6, running in nine tries in the process. Caleb Hamlin-Uele’s brace of touchdowns probably summed up the difference between the sides; he is a big, strong man, but the ease with which he shrugged off feeble attempts to stop him were embarrassing from a Castleford point of view.

Just as bad was Wakefield’s final score, claimed by Josh Rourke after Tigers defenders made no effort to challenge from Jack Sinfield’s kick. It was never any sort of contest and only a try to Jason Qareqare two minutes from time prevented Wakefield nilling their near-neighbours for the second time this season.

Lachlan Walmsley returned from injury on Trinity’s right-wing and was involved in the opening try after just three minutes, catching Jake Trueman’s kick and offloading to scorer Cam Scott. That was the first of three occasions Trinity got over Tigers’ line in the opening 10 minutes, but the only one to count.

Soon afterwards, Qareqare completed with Isaiah Vagana for a kick by Sinfield, who went on to kick six conversions, the ball came loose and Scott touched down. Referee Aaron Moore indicated no try and video official James Vella ruled a knock-on by the Wakefield man.

Krystian Mapapalangi dropped the ball from the resulting scrum and in the next set the ball was moved left and Will Tate picked up to cross after Tom Johnstone hurled the ball back as he headed into touch.

Moore awarded the try, but it was reviewed and disallowed after Vella spotted Johnstone had been over the line before getting the ball away. Walmsley could have scored if Sinfield’s pass had been more accurate, but Trinity’s second score eventually arrived after 16 minutes through Johnstone, from Rourke’s pass.

Not long after that, Hamlin-Uele barged over after Tyson Smoothy had supplied the ball, then Scott cruised over when Sinfield put him into a gap. It was 20-0 at the interval and Walmsley’s acrobatic finish, from Scott’s pass got the scoreboard moving again seven minutes after half-time.

The attack came from a simple drop by Tigers’ Brock Greacen which was symptomatic of their team performance. Caius Faatili juggled the ball before putting Tyson Smoothy in moments later, Hamlin-Uele scored the softest of tries to complete his brace then a scrum move ended with Johnstone doing the same, from Tate’s pass.

Rourke was the third Trinity man to have a try ruled out, for a double-movement, Qareqare had one - awarded on-field - disallowed following a video review and Scott was ruled to have knocked on trying to touch down. Rourke’s score made it 48-0 before Qareqare crossed and Tom Weaver converted from the touchline. That came following a penalty near the line, which was greeted by chants of ‘take the two’ from Castleford’s fans who were more surprised than anyone when their side scored.

Wakefield Trinity: Rourke, Johnstone, Tate, Scott, Walmsley, Trueman, Sinfield, McMeeken, Smoothie, Rodwell, Storton, Vagana, Tevaga. Subs Pitts, Hamlin-Uele, Faatili, Smith.

Castleford Tigers: Laulu-Togaga’e, Valemei, McIntosh, Mapapalangi, Qareqare, Asi, Weaver, Dupree, Golding, Lawler, Hirst, Mellor, Stimson. Subs Atoni, Hood, Greacen, Brown.

Referee: Aaron Moore (Wigan).