Castleford RUFC extended their Y3 winning stretch to 8 games securing the away win against 3rd place Bramley Phoenix to finish the day leapfrogging them into second place in Yorkshire 3.
A dominant first half performance from the visitors gave them the foothold required to withstand a second half reshuffle necessitated by injuries to Rhys Allatt and James Fox.
Cas started on the front foot and ever-dependable Ian Mattison put the first points on the board with a penalty. Unfortunately for the home side they missed their chance from a penalty attempt and a subsequent try from Allatt deservedly opened up the points gap to 0-8. Allatt was again in action with another fine try and Mattison added the extras for 0-15. Cas continued to press with their scrum, featuring Oliver Arundel, Alex Farnham and Millar McCoy, dominant. The backs were able to take advantage of good ball and Fox, Jordan Rice, Jack Cockerham and Allatt shone but it was winger, Bradley Reeves, who was next on the scoresheet, with Mattison’s conversion kick allowing Cas to head into half time a healthy 0-25 to the good.
It was a different picture in the second half as the home side rallied. The flow of the game changed as the injuries to the Cas players caused a reshuffle, Despite clawing back three tries and a conversion, Phoenix were unable to rise from the ashes of the first half and the visitors showed a lot of endeavour to hold out for a well-earned win, 17-25.