Hull weathered a second-half fightback from Castleford to win a thrilling game at The Jungle.

The Tigers must be wondering how they lost after they dominated for long spells, but they were 12-4 down at half-time and missed a string of chances.

They failed to build on a flying start. Lee Harland was held on his back over the line before Mitch Healey went in from a pass by his half-back partner Danny Orr.

Hull missed a chance when former Castleford winger Chris Smith failed to take Graham Mackay's pass with the line open.

But they snatched the lead in the 10th minute when hooker Lee Jackson capitalised on a kick from scrum-half Jason Smith to score a try that Matt Crowther converted.

Nathan Sykes and Healey made the opening for Castleford hooker Wayne Bartrim to go over but the effort was ruled out for a double movement after referee Ian Smith consulted a touch judge.

The Tigers were out of luck again when Barrie Jon-Mather got over the try-line but had the ball snatched out of his grasp by Hull's Mackay.

Hull made it 12-4 in the 39th minute when another kick from skipper Smith resulted in winger Gareth Raynor scoring a try. Crowther tagged on his second goal.

In the second half a penalty goal by Bartrim was cancelled out by Crowther who restored Hull's eight-point advantage.

However, the Tigers set up a nailbiting finish when they reduced the arrears to two points when Bartrim sent Orr in for a try that Bartrim goaled.

Castleford piled on the pressure in the closing stages and looked capable of grabbing a late win.

But Hull made sure of their first victory at the ground since 1991 when centre Toa Kohe-Love grabbed an 85-metre interception try a minute from time after snapping up a pass from Castleford's Harland.