Super League champions Leeds came crashing down to earth seven days on from their epic World Club Challenge triumph as promoted Castleford claimed their first win of the season in stunning fashion.

The Tigers turned the table on its head to inflict on their neighbours a first defeat since their play-off reverse at St Helens in September, despite a hat-trick of tries from winger Scott Donald.

It was like the classy Cas of old as Terry Matterson's men shrugged off their indifferent start to the season - which included a 64-12 hammering at Huddersfield a fortnight ago - to get off the mark in scintillating style with a seven-try rout.

The Tigers shocked the champions with their enthusiasm and no little skill after conceding the opening try of the match and left the field to a standing ovation from the 9,459 crowd.

Their heroes were three-quarters Stuart Donlan and Michael Shenton, who scored three tries between them on their return from injury.

Leeds coach Brian McClennan, who gave a debut to prop Luke Burgess, sprang a surprise by opting for Jordan Tansey at stand-off in place of the injured Danny McGuire in order to leave skipper Kevin Sinfield at loose forward.

But the game appeared to be going to form when the champions went in front on 16 minutes, Sinfield and full-back Brent Webb combining to release Donald from a scrum 60 metres out and the Australian showed a clean pair of heels to register his 50th try for the club.

Sinfield added the goal but it took Castleford only four minutes to strike back and it was 18-year-old loose forward Joe Westerman who lifted the spirits of the home crowd.

The highly promising teenager regathered his own grubber kick 10 metres out from the Leeds line and handed off hooker Matt Diskin to touch down for his first ever Super League try.

Westerman was off target with the conversion but the score did wonders for the Tigers' confidence as they forced a scrum on the visitors' 22 and scored a second try straight from it.

Quick hands by Luke Dorn and Brent Sherwin created the space for centre Ryan McGoldrick to send Stuart Donlan over for a try on his first game back from injury.

Westerman was again off target with the kick but Castleford almost scored again when Dorn's precision kick set up McGoldrick only for Tansey to get a boot to the ball to deny the Australian.

Dorn was not to be denied, however, for he timed his run to perfection to follow up Sherwin's grubber kick and claim a third try, which Westerman this time converted.

Leeds looked threatening with the ball but they frequently ruined promising moves with uncharacteristic handling errors.

The prospects of an upset soared when Castleford made a sensational start to the second half, with the returning Shenton scoring two tries within three minutes of the restart.

Straight from the kick-off, Donlan breezed past Keith Senior on his own 10 metre line and gave his centre an unopposed run to the line.

Two minutes later, Leeds were still in shock and caught napping when superb handling again got Shenton into space and he sold an outrageous dummy to cross for his second try.

Westerman was able to add a second conversion to make it 24-6 but the Rhinos were stung into action and they responded with two tries in seven minutes, both from Donald.

Senior was the provider for the first, while substitute forward Ali Lauitiiti offloaded from the tackle to enable the winger to complete his hat-trick with his ninth try of the season.

Unfortunately for the champions, Sinfield was wide with both conversion attempts and the Tigers pulled ahead again on 61 minutes when full-back Ryan McGoldrick sliced clean through the visitors' defence for a sixth try.

Shenton thought he had completed his hat-trick when Donlan gathered Sherwin's high kick and offloaded from the tackle but video referee Ben Thaler disallowed it for passing off the ground.

Westerman edged his side further in front with a penalty before Tansey scored a consolation try for the Rhinos but Castleford finished in total control, with Dorn racing in for his side's seventh try, and Westerman took his goal tally to five from eight attempts.