Or to put it another way, we played without any of our new signings or either of our recognised first choice hookers.

Still, not a bad result for a B team.

Merry Christmas everyone!

[size=150Castleford Tigers 28-18 Bradford Bulls [/size

Castleford Tigers: Clare, Holmes, Thompson, Griffin, Atkinson, McGoldrick, Johnston, Nash, Milner, Massey, Mitchell, Snitch, Jones.
Subs: Snelgrove, Davies, Siddons, Clark, Smith, Holmes, Brierley.

Bradford Bulls: Sykes, Ainscough, Platt, Walker, Crookes, Briggs, Jeffries, Hargreaves, O'Brien, Joseph, Sibbit, Olbison, Langley.
Subs: Donaldson, Addy, Bateman, Murphy, Hawthorne, McAvoy, Payne.

Castleford Tigers Tries: Griffin 2 (17,70), Atkinson 2 (34,5icon_cool.gif, Johnston (46), Nash (55)
Castleford Tigers Goals: Griffin 1/5 & Thompson 1/1

Bradford Bulls Tries: Crookes (1), Walker (42), Hargreaves (75), Ainscough (7icon_cool.gif
Bradford Bulls Goals: Briggs 1/4

Sin Bin: Sykes (20) Holding Down In The Tackle

Half Time: Castleford 10-4 Bradford
Penalty Count: Castleford 14-7 Bradford
Goal Line Drop Outs Forced: Castleford 0-1 Bradford
Attendance: 3,296 (Away 382)
Referee: Jamie Leahy (Leeds)

The Josh and Josh partnership for Castleford today looked extremely dangerous at times, causing the us no end of trouble out on the right hand fringes.

Josh Griffin's first try for Castleford was a real humdinger as he sold Ben Jeffries the biggest Boxing Day gift and went through the gap he created from 25m out.

But it wasn't all doom and gloom (not that we should read anything from the these pre-season games) as Castleford didn't touch the ball in the opening five minutes and once again our apparent lack of focus was to be our undoing after a solid opening start, forcing the knock-on from the kick off and then via some good executed play - moving the ball from right to left to put Crookes over unopposed for the first try after just forty seconds on the clock.

Despite the positive start the young Castleford side (average age 23) easily controlled us in all aspects of the game for a good sixty minute spell.

The main worry that from what I can see this early on ahead of Super League 17 is that we put ourselves under so much unnecessary pressure through stupid penalties and unenforced handling/passing errors.

Also the news that Manase Manuokafoa is looking at a spell of between six and eight weeks out on the sidelines through an ankle injury (the season hasn't even started yet) doesn't make our situation any better.

Oh you legend Mick. Would it be possible if you could do this for all the pre-season games? Massive help mate and thanks for your effort

What were Hargreaves and Ainscough's tries like??

Hargreaves try was better than the "wide to west" effort IMO as it was sheer unscripted support play with six players touching the ball from O'Brien picking up the ball at Dummy half on our own 40m line, before the outside pass to send Hargreaves crashing over on the diagonal from 20m out.

It really was off the cuff Rugby League at it's best and a superb score and as I said in the commentary - "That's worth the £13 entry fee alone".

Ainscough's try was a simple but effective move with quick ball along the attacking line involving O'Brien, Langley, Jeffries before the pass to Platt who then drew the two Castleford sliding defenders towards him before the executed pass to send Shaun away from 45m out down the main stand touchline for out fourth and final score.

Phil Joseph gave a good account of himself today with three solid stints in the front row.

I'd have to put him ahead of Sibbit after today's performance, never gave anything less than 110%.

The referee Mr Leahy was very pedantic and I mean pedantic.

Out of the 21 penalties - 7 we're given against us for crossing/shepherding (looks like this is the new rule that they've been asked to look out for in 2012).

Think your being a bit harsh saying cas doinated for 60mins Mick. Thought first half was pretty even. Cas had a twenty min spell in 2nd half where everything they tried came off which did the damage. Then we finished pretty strong. Can't read too much into it given teams on show.

The first 15 were Bradford, last 25 Cas. Second half Cas, bar last ten. He's got it pretty accurate for me.

that Hargreaves try was a fantastic try, as good a try as I've seen down at Cas. Tough luck for you guys about your new guy getting injured. Realistically, where are you lot hoping to finish in 2012 league position wise?

Anywhere between 6th and 8th depending on our injuries. And sounded like a good game. Apparently that Josh Griffin and Josh Atkinson looked good for you guys

Our times on top seemed pretty much to coincide with Langley being on the pitch, and he passed the ball as well as tackled. worrying things the defence out wide and some silly errors, encouraging things Briggs kicking game and when they kept it simple and moved the ball, tries. not quite enough of an experienced spine to the team, but plenty of opportunities for the youngsters.MnM news a real downer.

For me Jeffries made far too many mistakes out on the pitch, there seemed to be alot of penalties against us also for crossing which was confusing from where i was stood cos most of them seemed fine, AND Shaun Ainscough didnt seem to get much ball which was quite annoying more so for him as when he got the ball EVENTUALLY in the final 10 he showed what he could do................

................... BUT on that note it was only a friendly and wont read too much into is as this is way off what our starting 17 will look like.

Just good to get back to watching rugby !!!

The performance of the HB's was probably the biggest disappointment from that game. I would have expected to see BJ in particular looking more dominant against an inexperienced side. Briggs put in some decent kicks but like BJ his passing was pretty poor. It was however the 1st game in a long time for those players so we cannot expect error free rugby and perfect timing. Does anyone know if Lulia has arrived yet.. I thought it was to be around about now?

lulia was due to arrive yesterday (27th) so expect we'll see him on back of t&a in next couple of days.

by the sounds of it, sammut and gale have a big chance to make the shirt theirs.

The ex-Huddersfield \ Halifax Phil Joseph?

yep. being trialled as a prop. looked useful in attack but needs to work on his defence.

wouldnt go quite that far. jeffries/briggs combo probably isnt first choice. Think we'll see gale played at scrum half for other friendlies with all 3 of the others paired with him in turn. Tend to prefer standoff to have a better support/kicking game which at moment seems to favor briggs but thats just a personal preference. Think we'll see a fw combos tried over next few weeks. Think Gale is pretty nailed on for first choice scrum half, especially as he seems favourite to be kicker too, but at moment guess all shirts are up for grabs.

[urlhttp://www.castigers.com/article.php?id=1983[/url

Game highlights.

Cheers for that, very good of Cas to get those highlights up online. On the evidence of that performance, Platt should be nowhere near the first team centre spots this season as his defence is woeful. The highlights don't show much of Joseph going forward either, but he misses a few key tackles in the build up to Cas tries. Worrying times if we need to resort to playing him in the first team this season.

Your welcome, a few of your younger players looked pretty good on boxing day, hope you have a good season (not as good as us though

) got a soft spot for bradford after living there for 4 years.

Would have thought that was good enough reason to hate us....

Despite being burgled 3 times, having murders at end of my road and having terrorists as downstairs neighbours (and yes all these things are true!) there is so much i miss about Bradford, i have some very happy memories (mainly blurry ones from the fighting cock, peel and the student union bar admittedly). One thing Bradford has that many other cities don't imo is character.