Leeds (0) 18
Tries: Smith, Webb, Diskin Goals: Smith 3

Castleford (6) 12
Tries: Owen, WestermanGoals: Huby 2

Leeds has 14 players missing for the match at Headingley

A severely understrength Leeds side staged a second-half recovery to edge out bottom-of-the-table Castleford.

Leeds, missing 14 players because of international commitments and injuries, fielded several Academy youngsters and had Brent Webb at scrum-half.

Castleford took a 6-0 lead into the break thanks to Richard Owen's score, and led 10-0 after Joe Westerman's try.

But Leeds stormed back into the game, with Lee Smith, Webb and Matt Diskin claiming crucial second-half scores.

With key players like Kevin Sinfield, Jamie Peacock, Gareth Ellis, Keith Senior, Danny McGuire and Rob Burrow all in action for England against France on Friday, Leeds had no choice but to delve into their Academy in the shape of Michael Haley, Ben Jones-Bishop and Danny Allan

The Rhinos' Academy is rated as one of the best in the game, and the latest graduates showed why as they battled back to claim a win that keeps them clear at the top of Super League.

606: DEBATE How did you rate Leeds' display at Headingley?

Allan went close for Leeds only to be chopped down just short of the line by Owen's tackle, and the Tigers centre extended his side's lead soon after with a penalty.

Brent Sherwin missed with a drop-goal attempt wide just before the break as Cas finished on the front foot.

It was the same story in the early stages of the second half as Westerman plucked Luke Dorn's crossfield kick out of the air to put Castleford 10-0 up.

After two straight defeats, Leeds looked to be in real trouble but they showed real character to come back through Smith's try after collecting Simon Worrall's pass.

Webb then found the space to crash over and Diskin went over next to the posts.

Leeds coach Brian McClennan:
"Thirteen of those boys came through the academy here and to see their faces in there at the end was fantastic.

"It's something they will remember for the rest of their lives. During the week I said to the guys, even the older ones like Brent Webb, that you will play 200 to 300 games and you won't remember them all - but you'll remember this one.

"What a fantastic team and what a great honour it is to be involved in something like that.

"It showed the British game is in very good health when those youngsters can come in and produce something like that."

Castleford coach Terry Matterson:
"I thought there was a lot of effort and we defended quite well overall.

"But Leeds deserve credit for producing a second-half performance like that."

Leeds: Jones-Bishop; Hall, Jones-Buchanan, Smith, Donald; Allan, Webb; Leuluai, Diskin, Burgess, Lauitiiti, Bailey, Worrall.
Replacements: Williams, Kaye, Haley, Chandler.

Castleford: Donlan; Fletcher, Shenton, Owen, Wainwright; Dorn, Sherwin; Huby, Henderson, Korkidas, Lupton, Catic, McGoldrick.
Replacements: Thackeray, Westerman, Higgins, Boyle.

Referee: P Bentham (Castleford)