Wakefield survived the first half dismissal of captain Monty Betham to breathe fresh life into their engage Super League survival bid.

Despite losing the Kiwi Betham for punching and prop Ned Catic for a butt in the closing stages, it was a stunning start to the reign of new boss John Kear as his relegation-haunted side won a scrappy affair and moved off the bottom of the table.

Wakefield absorbed incessant second half pressure before finishing with a flourish, scoring three tries in the final 14 minutes to gain two priceless points.

Kear's men made a flying start with a try on two minutes, when half-back Ben Jeffries and Kiwi back row David Solomona carved an opening for winger Semi Tadulala to touch down in the corner.

They were the only points of a penalty-strewn half as nerves got to both sides.

Willie Manu went closest for lacklustre Castleford, while Betham wrestled his way over at the other end - only to be held up over the try line.

The tension spilled over just seconds from the hooter when Betham was given his marching orders for raining a series of blows on Ryan McGoldrick after tackling the Australian half-back in midfield.

The Tigers showed far more urgency in the second half but Wakefield defended stubbornly.

Cas hooker Andy Henderson's superb break ended with winger Adam Fletcher going over in the corner but the final pass was ruled forward.

Then Cas had a lucky escape when the video referee ruled out an effort from centre Ryan Atkins.

Wakefield put the game to bed with three late tries.

Winger Colum Halpenny doubled the lead from a suspiciously forward-looking pass from James Evans, who then won the race to ground an astute kick from half-back Jamie Rooney four minutes later.

Former Tigers full-back Tom Saxton scored a superb individual try, goaled by Rooney, before the Wildcats were reduced to 11 men when Catic was sent off for appearing to headbutt Tigers prop Danny Sculthorpe.