Castleford's fine start to the season continued as they eased victory over Keighley at Cougar Park to book their place in the fifth round of the Carnegie Challenge Cup.

Five wins from their opening seven games have propelled the Tigers to fourth place in the engage Super League and it showed as they made light work of the Co-operative League One part-timers.

Four tries in seven second-half minutes, which saw Rangi Chase complete his hat-trick following his score in the first half, and 11 tries in all put the Cougars to the sword.

Castleford coach Terry Matterson was unable to include Brett Ferres in his side after he picked up a knee injury in last week's Super League victory over Bradford, while Stuart Jones missed out due to illness.

Loose forward Greg Nicholson passed a late fitness test on his shoulder and started for the Cougars.

Brent Sherwin dictated the opening exchanges, orchestrating a series of attacks on the Cougars line but handling errors cost the visitors on a number of occasions.

But the hosts were not without chances of their own and created a series of half breaks the best of which saw Will Cartledge and Danny Jones combine to send Gav Duffy through - but to no avail.

The opening score came in the 12th minute when Michael Shenton crossed in the corner following good work from the Tigers backs.

The initial break was made by Ryan McGoldrick who sliced through a static Cougars defence and fed Shenton on the outside. Kirk Dixon added the extras.

First Chase went close in the corner before James Evans managed to send Liam Higgins through in the 19th minute. He made no mistake in crossing the whitewash and Dixon added extras Jon Presley and Danny Jones put the ball down on several occasions for the home side gifting the ball back to the Tigers.

And a third try arrived in the 22nd minute when Sherwin angled a high kick towards the corner on the fifth tackle.

Dixon had the momentum and rose above the defence to gather the ball and touch down.

After slotting the previous two conversions between the sticks he failed to add to his own try to leave the score 16-0.

The Cougars crossed for their first try of the afternoon when Presley made it six tries in six successive games with a score four minutes later.

He darted through a gaping hole in the Tigers defence as they pedalled backwards after giving away a penalty deep in their own half.

Danny Jones was successful with the resulting conversion.

Chase added another two-and-a-half minutes after the break when a gap opened up in front of him and he was allowed to cross unopposed.

Sione Faumuina crashed over the line in the 46th minute after the Tigers back had done well to drive the ball up the field.

And the game was effectively over two minutes later following a fine run by Chase who made 60 metres before handing Evans the simple task of scoring in the corner.

Lee Mapals pulled one back for the Cougars when he managed to hold onto Jones' cross-field kick and touch down in the corner.

Richard Owen added a further converted try for Castleford when he eased his way over the line and James Ford, who was making his debut following his summer move from Sheffield, also scored in the 61st minute when he cut in from the left to beat several defenders.

Chase helped himself to two further tries to complete his hat-trick before Kirk Netherton got his side's 11th of the afternoon.

Mapals completed his hat-trick when he added two late efforts, the latter of which saw him sprint the length of the field.