Raynor's intervention denied Castleford a second-half try

Hull gave the perfect response to those calling for the head of coach Peter Sharp with a comfortable win at Cas.

Despite Craig Huby putting Cas ahead, tries by Craig Hall, Scott Wheeldon and Motu Tony put Hull on top at the break.

Debutant Matt Cook notched the first try after the restart to put the Tigers back in it before Gareth Raynor's dive denied Kirk Dixon a chip-and-chase try.

Peter Lupton pulled one back for Cas after Jamie Thackray's try for Hull but Hall's second try wrapped up the win.

Castleford began full of confidence and scored the first points through Huby's penalty, but they were stung when Hall's stunning length-of-the-field try put Hull in front.

The Tigers were on the attack when Huby was dispossessed just yards from the Hull line, and in desperation he hacked the ball into the path of waiting Hall, who produced a superb turn of pace to burn off three challenges and score.

Wheeldon added to the lead when he dived over after Hull chose to run from dummy half on the fifth tackle while the Tigers defence was waiting for the visitors to kick instead.

Tony piled on the misery in the final set of six before the break when his pure strength helped him stretch over and touch down against his former side.

Cas needed to score early in the second half to stay in the game and duly did so when loan signing Cook marked his debut by ploughing over from close range.

Only a desperate dive by Raynor knocked the ball out of play to deny Dixon a try which would have further cut the margin, and the Tigers' hopes took another knock when Thackray got on the end of Berrigan's delicate kick-through to score for Hull.

Lupton punched through the defensive line to score late on for Castleford, but a comeback was never on the cards, and at the death Hall made sure of the points with his second try.

• Castleford coach Terry Matterson:

"They were desperate and came ready to play. We scrambled well and had opportunities but were not clinical enough.

"I don't think the scoreline reflects the game if you break it down. It was just about being patient and our last play options weren't there.

"We had enough opportunities to win the game and every opportunity they had they took."

• Hull FC coach Peter Sharp:

"It is nice to get a win. Defensively it was pretty good in the first half and offensively pretty good in the second.

"But I want to stress we have got a lot of work to do. We have got some improving to do.

"We are patchy - we have bits of really good play and bits of ill-discipline. We have changed a few things around, which will take time to kick in, but I am confident."

Castleford: Owen, Donlan, Shenton, Dixon, Wainwright, Dorn, Sherwin, Higgins, Henderson, Huby, Lupton, Guttenbeil, Westerman. Replacements: Clayton, Cook, Boyle, Moore.

Hull: Tony, Byrne, Hall, Yeaman, Raynor, Washbrook, Berrigan, Dowes, Lee, Cusack, Manu, Tickle, Radford. Replacements: Houghton, Wheeldon, Burnett, Thackray.

Referee: S Ganson (Great Britain)