Castleford boosted their top-six bid with a six-try win over play-off rivals Widnes.

The Vikings' hopes of completing a hat-trick of victories over Castleford this season disappeared early in the second-half when loose forward Daniel Frame was sent to the sin-bin.

The Tigers capitalised by scoring two quick tries to increase their lead to a match-winning 26-4.

Steve McCurrie got two touchdowns in a Widnes fightback but it came too late.

The Tigers weathered early Widnes pressure before taking a fifth-minute lead when Australian centre Mike Eager went in at the corner.

Widnes cut the gap to two points five minutes later with an Adam Hughes goal after Wayne Bartrim was penalised for a high tackle.

Hughes missed a chance to level the scores when he failed with a 22nd minute penalty attempt before the Vikings went close to a try when Stuart Spruce and Paul Devlin linked to send Phil Cantillon clear but the final pass was ruled forward.

The Tigers went further ahead when full-back Darren Rogers finished a delightful move started by skipper Danny Orr.

Bartrim's touchline conversion put Castleford eight points in front but Widnes stayed in touch with Hughes' second penalty goal.

However, the Tigers took a 12-point lead four minutes before the interval when Mitch Healey and Kyle Warren sent substitute Mark Lennon racing in for a try that Bartrim converted.

When Frame was shown the yellow card after a 45th minute flare-up the Tigers soon cashed in.

Orr's crossfield kick resulted in Jon Wells putting in Andy Johnson.

Twelve-man Widnes quickly fell further behind when winger Waine Pryce stretched his try-scoring sequence to eight games in a row by taking Eagar's pass to go in.

The Vikings finally got their first touchdown in the 62nd minute when McCurrie barged through and Hughes tagged on the goal.

But Castleford soon put the issue beyond doubt when Lennon sent prop Andy Lynch over and Bartrim kicked his fourth goal.

McCurrie grabbed his second try, Spruce also crossed and Hughes landed his fourth goal but it all came too late to rescue the Vikings.