Castleford (0) 6
Tries: Arundel Goals: Dixon

Leeds (12) 48
Tries: Watkins, Jones-Buchanan, Hall 2, McGuire, Burrow, McShane, Kirke
Goals: Sinfield 8

Jamie Peacock injured his knee in last season's corresponding game

Jamie Peacock made a winning return to action as inspired Leeds romped to a stunning local derby win at Castleford.

Peacock's Leeds and England colleague Danny McGuire, who has also spent the last seven months out with a knee injury, ran in a superb solo try.

Kallum Watkins and Jamie Jones-Buchanan earned Leeds a 12-0 interval lead.

But six second-half tries, from Ryan Hall (2), McGuire, set up by Peacock's pass, Rob Burrow, Paul McShane and Ian Kirke sealed a stunning victory.

Kevin Sinfield kicked eight goals from nine attempts as the Rhinos enjoyed their best win of the season.

Joe Arundel did ensure the Tigers avoided the indignity of potentially being 'nilled' at home with a late reply before the late cake-icing efforts from McShane, Kirke and winger Hall.

But, although they suffered ill luck in the first half, thanks to a string of refereeing decisions that did not go their way, the Cas centre's consolation try could not ease the pain of a third straight defeat.

Peacock coincidentally suffered the knee injury on Leeds' last trip to Cas in August, when the Rhinos won 38-6 - and he had spent eight months out following the knee operation that prematurely ended his 2010 campaign.

But, after missing an early tackle on substitute Martin Aspinwall after coming off the bench, he gradually settled into the game in an initial 21-minute spell.

Peacock's bench comeback follows McGuire's return from injury on Monday in Leeds' 34-16 win over Crusaders.

McGuire, who also started on the bench against Cas, missed the first two months of the season too, after suffering a similar knee injury in Leeds' play-off win at Wigan last September.

But, despite having Ryan McGoldrick back to make his first appearance of the season, Cas badly missed prop Craig Huby, who has been ruled out for at least four months after fracturing his knee.

Leeds' third win in nine days - and their third in as many visits to Wheldon Road - enables them to draw level with one-time leaders Cas, who have now gone four games without a win.

Cas had their moments in the first half and were unfortunate to have two tries by winger Richie Owen disallowed for marginal forward passes by the ever-dangerous Rangi Chase.

I thought they were genuine tries and there were a couple of dubious tries for them. To have those chalked off was absolutely ridiculous Castleford coach Terry Matterson

By the same token, Leeds were then lucky not to be pulled up at the other end for two suspiciously forward passes of their own in the move that led to Jones-Buchanan's try - just three minutes after McGuire had come on.

Leeds had taken just two minutes to open the scoring when winger Watkins took hooker McShane's crisp pass on the last tackle to squeeze over at the corner for his ninth try of the season.

Jones-Buchanan's try, followed by Sinfield's penalty, then earned a 12-point interval cushion.

But, with Peacock and McGuire back, affording coach Brian McDermott the luxury of being able to rest Danny Buderus and Ryan Bailey and demote another forward Weller Hauraki to the reserves, it was largely one-way traffic after the break.

And any hope of a Cas fightback was ended 12 minutes into the second half when the impressive McShane got left winger Hall over.

Victory was sealed when Peacock, just three minutes into his second spell, produced a classic offload from the tackle to get the supporting McGuire over. And that proved to be the first of five Leeds tries in the final quarter.

Another England man, scrum-half Rob Burrow, added a fifth try on 67 minutes.

And, although McGoldrick sent Arundel over for Castleford's only try on 70 minutes, the game was well over as a contest as Leeds finished with a flourish.

McShane and fellow forward Kirke both crossed before Hall grabbed his second in injury time.

Castleford coach Terry Matterson:

"It's been a tough old seven days for us. It was a game too far. We were wonderful at St Helens on Monday and there some really good patches at the start today. But a couple of tries got taken away from us.

"I thought they were genuine tries and there were a couple of dubious tries for them. To have those chalked off was absolutely ridiculous. It dumbfounds you but, when you look at the scoreboard at 48-6, I can't really say too much.

"It's just not bouncing our way at the moment. We've got some real key personnel out and they're not likely to be back any time soon.

"We need to take our medicine. When things were going good we copped the raps but we weren't good enough today. Leeds can do that to you. Once they get on your throat, they go for the jugular."

Leeds coach Brian McDermott:

"It's like there's two Messiahs come back to rugby league with the amount of noise that's been made about Danny McGuire and Jamie Peacock.

"They are both very influential people as well as world-class players.

"But I reckon it's going to be another three, maybe four weeks before we see the true Peacock and the true McGuire."

Castleford: Mathers; Dixon, Thompson, Arundel, Owen; Chase, Orr; Jackson, Milner, Snitch, Jones, Holmes, Ferres.

Replacements: Emmitt, Aspinwall, McGoldrick, Clark.

Leeds: Webb; Watkins, Delaney, Senior, Hall; Sinfield, Burrow; Leuluai, McShane, Burgess, Jones-Buchanan, Clarkson, Ablett.

Replacements: McGuire, Peacock, Cross, Kirke.

Attendance: 9,860.

Referee: Richard Silverwood (Dewsbury).

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