Full-back Darren Rogers scored two tries as the red-hot Tigers kept up their
pursuit of a play-off place by hammering Halifax.
The Blue Sox have won just one of their previous 10 games and are in real
danger of being sucked into the relegation dogfight at the foot of Super
League.
They never recovered from a blistering opening spell by Castleford, who scored
26 points in as many minutes without reply.
As for Halifax, they still have to play the bottom three of Wakefield,
Warrington and Salford - and on this evidence it is hard to see where the next
win is coming from for a side hampered by injury and low confidence.
Wayne Bartrim's sixth-minute penalty set the ball rolling for Graham
Steadman's side and they extended their advantage soon after when Danny Orr's
dummy left Andy Hobson grabbing at fresh air and he put Michael Eager in at the
corner.
Bartrim added the goal and from the kick-off Castleford attacked again.
Ryan Hudson gathered the ball off the floor and passed to Eager, as the
defence came across he chipped ahead and Waine Pryce beat Danny Halliwell in the
race to the corner.
Halifax fell further behind as Hobson lost the ball in a tackle with Eager on
the Tigers' line and Rogers picked up the ball to run 95 metres and score at
the other end.
Two minutes later Rogers went over again as he stepped through a weak
challenge by Jamie Thackray to score a simple try with Bartrim's goal making it
five out of five for the hooker.
David Woods pulled a try back for Halifax, but as half-time approached
Castleford scored again.
As James Gannon dropped the ball on the first tackle, it was gathered by the
superb Eager who broke deep into the Halifax half.
He was tackled, but the ball was moved right where Hudson dived over, with Orr
adding the goal.
Orr's penalty extended the Tigers' lead before Halifax stand-off Andrew
Dunemann broke from the base of the scrum to score in the corner, with Gavin
Clinch adding the extras.
But Castleford were not finished as Orr's short pass created a try for Kyle
Warren.
Halifax full-back Stuart Donlan scored a late consolation for Halifax, again
converted by Clinch.
David Woods had a late score ruled out for the Blue Sox, but by then
Castleford were long home and dry.
Afterwards under-pressure Halifax coach Steve Linnane accused clubs of "tapping"
his players as they battle to avoid relegation.
The Blue Sox chief, has seen his side lose nine out of their last 10 games but
blames off-field distractions for some of their problems.
"There are a number of players in the club who are coming off contract and I
know that a number of them have been illegally approached by other clubs in the
competition.
"There has been a lot of unsettling talk in the last couple of weeks and it
has affected us but proving it is a difficult thing.
"We have no control over the teams below us and what they do, all we can do
is concentrate on our own performance."
Castleford Tigers assistant coach Gary Mercer was delighted with his side's
performance as he made a winning return to The Shay.
Mercer was axed as the Blue Sox coach midway through last season and has since
forged a successful partnership with Graham Steadman at The Jungle.
"To be honest I was quite surprised how much leeway they gave us especially
at the start of the game.
"I have never been to The Shay and seen teams take 20 points off Halifax like
that.
"We created opportunities and scored them. We are looking for the top six but
trying not to think about it too much, just taking it game by game."
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