Castleford gave their engage Super League survival chances another huge boost by winning a thrilling derby at The Jungle.

A 62nd-minute drop goal by Danny Brough proved decisive as the Tigers survived a late Leeds fightback.

The Rhinos cut the gap to one point with Shane Millard's 78th-minute try and Rob Burrow's fifth goal but it came too late.

Castleford were the first to threaten but Danny Sculthorpe's kick was too strong for winger Luke Dyer.

The Rhinos then snatched a fourth-minute lead from a move that started 10 yards from their own try line.

Ali Lauitiiti sent Keith Senior bursting clear and he was supported by Burrow who went over in style for a try he also goaled.

With hooker Millard and half-backs Danny McGuire and Burrow linking superbly Leeds continued to look dangerous.

But they were rocked when their former forward Danny Ward put the Tigers level when he charged over from 40 yards out and Brough converted.

Tigers full-back Michael Platt lost the ball near the try line after Brough's 40-20 set up another Castleford raid.

Willi Manu was then held up over the line as Castleford pressed again.

Platt foiled the Rhinos with a try-saving tackle on Chev Walker after Willie Poching cleverly made an opening for the centre.

The Tigers, with prop Sculthorpe and Danny Nutley making excellent ground, constantly forced Leeds back.

The Rhinos fell behind in the 24th minute when Adam Fletcher went over at the corner from Michael Shenton's pass for the first of his two tries.

Leeds rallied and regained the lead 11 minutes later when McGuire darted over for the first of his two touchdowns that Burrow improved.

The game swung back Castleford's way when Shenton scored three minutes later to put the hosts 14-12 up at half-time.

Leeds were immediately under pressure in the second half when they were forced to drop out from under their posts after failing to deal with the kick-off.

The Tigers increased their lead with a Brough penalty goal after Leeds prop Jamie Jones-Buchanan was penalised for holding down.

Castleford soon struck again when Ryan McGoldrick intercepted McGuire's pass and hared 50 yards for a try that Brough goaled.

Leeds cut the gap to four points in the 51st minute when Walker set up McGuire's second score and Burrow tagged on the extras.

Another superb 40-20 from Brough took Castleford close again before he nosed them further ahead with his vital drop goal.

Leeds came back again to reduce the deficit to one point when Dyer fumbled McGuire's kick and Scott Donald scored a try that Burrow converted to set up a tremendous finish.

Adam Fletcher then struck an important blow when he capitalised on his own kick to collect a 74th-minute try that Brough goaled to give them a seven-point cushion.

Millard's late effort was in vain for the second-placed Rhinos as their winning run came to an end.