Castleford (30) 52
Tries: Youngquest 2, Dixon, Mathers, Arundel 2, Widders, Clark, Owen
Goals: Dixon 8

Salford (10) 20
Tries: Broughton, Anderson, Holdsworth, Sidlow
Goals: Holdsworth 2

Half-back Rangi Chase proved a thorn in the side of Salford all afternoon

Castleford climbed to the top of Super League on points difference with a 52-20 win over a beleaguered Salford.

Cas put the result beyond doubt before half time with tries by Nick Youngquest (2), Kirk Dixon, who also landed five kicks, Richie Mathers and Joe Arundel.

Tries for Jamie Broughton and Vinnie Anderson put Salford 10-6 up midway through the first half.

But Cas ran in tries by Dean Widders, Daryl Clark, Richard Owen and Arundel before Adam Sidlow's late consolation.

Castleford's nine-try victory was enough to take them back to the top of Super League on points difference, with a game in hand, while maintaining their 100% home record.

Salford, who already have coach Shaun McRae on sick leave, started poorly, looking affected by claims that assistant coach Malcolm Alker had been sent home from training last week.

Cas were six points ahead within five minutes when star man Rangi Chase's hit on Holdsworth dislodged the ball and Youngquest gathered to race away under the posts.

Dixon converted for the first of a 20-point haul that saw him become the first player to hit the 100-mark in Super League XVI.

Salford suggested they might make a game of it when they scored with their first sustained attack, Broughton slipping under Owen's tackle to touch down in the corner, before Daniel Holdsworth's touchline conversion crept over.

And, a minute later, Broughton snapped up a spilled ball 25 metres out to put away Anderson, who had worked brilliantly to get on the outside and create the two-on-one.

Holdsworth missed the conversion attempt but, with 20 minutes gone, the Reds were 10-6 ahead. And they could have added a third shortly after, only for Iafeta Paleaaesina made a mess of a simple pass.

Rangi Chase is playing as well as I've seen him play Castleford coach Terry Matterson

But Cas surged back and asked questions of the Reds defence, with Chase at the heart of it.

The half-back's pass found Dixon who forced his way over in the corner before converting his own score to put Tigers back in front.

The hosts then produced a devastating six-minute spell up to half time which saw them score three tries.

First, full-back Mathers steamed through a gap created when Marc Sneyd lost his footing in Salford's defensive line.

Arundel then went over for his first just before the stroke of half time when Broughton failed to take Chase's kick cleanly.

Chase was also instrumental in Youngquest's second on the stroke of half time with his quick thinking.

The Tigers had a penalty in front of the posts and, with Salford expecting a shot at goal, Chase kicked to the corner where Youngquest outjumped Mark Henry.

Holdsworth gave Salford the perfect start to the second half when he shrugged off a tackle to cross for the Reds before adding the conversion himself.

But, five minutes later, Castleford re-established the 20-point lead they needed to go top when substitute Widders charged over.

Stephen Wild's sin-binning on 53 minutes for a late challenge on Danny Orr made the visitors' task even harder.

Teenager Clark went over while Cas held the man advantage and the Tigers went further ahead when Chase's kick put Owen in.

Former Cas prop Ryan Boyle was put on report for a challenge on Jake Emmitt late on before Arundel's second try five minutes from time.

Salford rallied at the death to put Sidlow in for a consolation.

Castleford Tigers coach Terry Matterson:
"Rangi Chase is playing as well as I've seen him play. We know he's got his bag of tricks but he is also getting us round the field and he is not overplaying.

"I wasn't too concerned when Salford led 10-6 in the first half. I wanted to see how our guys reacted and they reacted in the right way to score some wonderful tries.

"We didn't set any pre-season targets. We brought in so many players and I didn't really know what to set."

Castleford chief executive Richard Wright:

"Sunday's crowd figure is very pleasing. It was over 1,700 up on the same fixture last year. It is a good sign that supporters are returning in numbers.

"The atmosphere was great. It has been a long time since we had that volume of support from the terraces and long may it continue."

Salford director of rugby Steve Simms:
"We will be talking to Malcolm Alker on Monday and it will be kept within our organisation. It is between us and we will sort that out during the week.

"We've had our problems during the season and it doesn't help but we are not looking for excuses. Everybody has problems and it just seems when you get beaten people are looking for issues.

"We haven't got any more problems than any other club. We came here to play and we thought we could win the game today and up until the 30-minute mark we probably could have done.

"But Castleford were outstanding. Special players change games and, if there were any international teams picked this week, Rangi Chase would be in all of them but we made him look pretty good."

Castleford: Mathers; Owen, Arundel, Dixon, Youngquest; Chase, Orr; Emmitt, Hudson, Huby, Aspinwall, Holmes, Ferres.
Replacements: Jackson, Clark, Widders, Fozzard.

Salford: Patten; Broughton, Nero, Ratchford, Henry; Smith, Holdsworth; Cashmere, Godwin, Boyle, L Adamson, Anderson, Wild.
Replacements: Paleaaesina, Sneyd, Sidlow, Neal.

Sin Bin: Wild (53).

Att: 6,741

Ref: Phil Bentham (Warrington).

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