Saints 32 Castleford Tigers 32 RECORD books will confirm high scoring has been par for the course whenever these old rivals rivals clash.

And a glance at the scoreline at windswept Knowsley Road would have supported that view.

However entertainment was hardly the name of the game for, despite a highest-ever score draw for Saints; a controversial equaliser by Castleford. and a genuine hat-trick by Tigers prop Dean Sampson, it would be nearer the truth to say this was a match that will be remembered for the wrong reasons.

These included a remarkable penalty count of 30 overall including 12 in the opening quarter which set the pattern for a stop-start opening of Fred Karno dimensions rather than tooth-and-nail encounter; add three placings on report and a sin-binning after the 80th minute and the net result was sheer boredom!

However individual citations were earned. Tommy Martyn, whose all-round excellence on returning from injury saw him scoop both the McEwan-Lager and Concrete TS man-of-the-match awards.

'Holding down' cost Castleford two points within 90 seconds when Sean Long, aided by a stiff breeze, kicked the first of his six goals and he almost immediately landed another when Jason Flowers high-tackled Brett Goldspink, with the big Australian's riposte being to blast over for the game's opening touchdown.

Long again converted, and then tacked on another penalty when Sampson was placed on report for high-tackling Goldspink which meant, with the game just 10 minutes old, that Castleford had been penned on their own line by a Saints' side dominating possession and who were 12-0 to the good. Long added yet another two-pointer when referee Kirkpatrick deemed that Cas had wandered offside but, by dint of bloody-minded refusal to submit, the Tigers clawed their way back to contention with the scene being set for the release of the marauding man-mountain Sampson.

For, in the space nine minutes he scattered Saints a trio of touchdowns, all characterised by charges from close-in.

Danny Orr's conversion of the third try and the sin-binning of Paul Davidson for an off-the-ball incident meant the omens were not good for a Saints' side now set to face the wind, not to mention a Tiger's team lifted by Sampson's heroics.

Cas enjoyed an early second-half fillip when Francis Maloney spotted a gap in mid-field and held off Anthony Sullivan and Atcheson to touch down for Orr to goal, and at this stage the visitors basked in the luxury of scoring four tries to one, despite leading only 20-14. However, the majestic Martyn stepped in with a glorious try goaled by Long, but the see-saw scoring continued when Cas scrum-half Brad Davis opened the way for his influential captain Adrian Vowles to cross and then, after Keiron Cunningham was fouled, Long made Castleford pay for their sins in sending Ian Pickavance over.

Vila Matautia was reported for alleged use of the elbow as Martyn restored Saints' advantage with another sidestepping epic, and it appeared game, set and match for Saints when Cunningham and Atcheson sent Paul Newlove over to become the first player to touch down 50 times in Super League.

No doubt troubled by the wayward wing Long hit the upright with the conversion, but although losing 32-24 with just five minutes remaining Castleford set up a nail-biting finale when Gael Tallec powered over for Orr to add the extra points.

As the dying seconds ticked by, Saints were penalised in front of their posts whereupon Davis elected for the 'tap,' was tackled short of the line and landed the crucial two points when Mr. Kirkpatrick ruled the penalty be re-taken.

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