Castleford (10) 20
Tries: Ferres, Owen 2Goal: Dixon, Westerman 3

Catalans Dragons (10) 22
Tries: Pelo 2, Greenshields, Carlaw Goals: Bosc 3

Castleford try-scorer Ferres is tackled by Greenshields of the Dragons

Catalans Dragons held on to claim a narrow 22-20 win at Castleford to keep their play-off hopes alive.

Castleford raced into a 10-point lead courtesy of tries from Brett Ferres and Richard Owen, but Catalans drew level through a Dimitri Pelo brace.

Two Joe Westerman penalties put the Tigers ahead but Clint Greenshields and Dane Carlaw gave Catalans the edge.

Owen's second score of the game set up a tense finish, but for all the Tigers pressure the Dragons held on.

Two tries in the opening seven minutes had given ninth-placed Castleford early hope of claiming victory over a side three places below them in the Super League table.

Catalans' Steven Bell was at fault for both Tigers tries as he firstly failed to deal with a high Rangi Chase kick and Ferres pounced on the loose ball before being caught out again two minutes later as Owen broke through his and Jason Croker's defences to touch down.

606: DEBATE Give your reaction to the Dragons' 22-20 win over the Tigers

Kirk Dixon missed his conversion for the first try but made no mistake with the second.

The Dragons responded well and when Thomas Bosc's long pass found Baile, his offload put Pelo over in the corner, although the home crowd voiced their dissatisfaction at what they felt was an incorrect grounding.

Bosc added the extras and was then involved in the flowing move moments later that sent Pelo over again to level the scores.

A brace of Westerman penalties briefly swung the game back in the home side's favour but Catalans again responded as Greenshields leapt well to claim a Bosc kick before dropping to score.

Carlaw then claimed the decisive score, charging over from 10 metres from a Mogg pass.

The hosts set up a tense finish as Owen broke clear down the right with four minutes remaining to score in the corner, which Westerman converted, but despite constant late pressure were unable to break through again.

The Tigers left the field feeling aggrieved over a number of decisions by referee Ian Smith.

They felt two Dragons tries should have been referred to the video referee while Carlaw's clincher came after a controversial penalty.

Castleford coach Terry Matterson on decisions not being referred to the video referee:

"It is a bonus we get the video and TV. I just don't understand why they don't use it.

"But I don't really want to comment on the referee. I don't think that will do us any good.

"The first 15 minutes were to plan but after that our ball completion went down. They are a good side and they capitalised on it, but it's disappointing because the match was there to win."

Dragons coach Kevin Walters:
"In the first 10 or 15 minutes we couldn't control their ball work.

"They were coming up with some good stuff, but then we finally got our defence to work and got back into the game.

"I always thought it would go down to the death and fortunately it was us that were ahead at the time.

"It could have gone either way, and we had a bit of luck in areas you need to win games, but we'll take that."

Castleford: Owen, Wainwright, Shenton, Widders, Dixon, Faumuina, McGoldrick, Sargent, Chase, Huby, Ferres, Jones, Westerman.
Replacements: Clayton, Higgins, Boyle, Netherton.

Catalans Dragons: Greenshields, Bell, Baile, Croker, Pelo, Mogg, Bosc, Ferriol, McGuire, Guisset, Elima, Gossard, Carlaw.
Replacements: Casty, Mounis, Ryles, Perry.

Referee: I Smith (Oldham)

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