Super League: Golden-point drop-goal gives Leeds 21-20 win over Castleford

Brad Dwyer scored a dramatic long-range drop-goal in golden-point extra time to help Leeds Rhinos pull off a vital win against Castleford Tigers.

Konrad Hurrell scored a fifth try of the season as he put Leeds ahead early on, but Liam Watts broke back for Cas.

Ash Handley touched down for Leeds on the half-hour mark while Liam Sutcliffe and Trent Merrin extended their lead.

Tries from Greg Minikin, Chris Clarkson and Alex Foster levelled it at 20-20, but Dwyer scored the winning point.

Despite the victory Leeds remain bottom of Super League on points difference while Castleford stay in third place, but miss the chance to put pressure on second-placed Warrington.

In a finely-poised first half, both Sutcliffe and Peter Mata’utia hit the post with conversion attempts for each side while Sutcliffe hit the post with his second attempt after Handley’s try.

After Watts’ score levelled the scores, Leeds had two tries denied by the video referee, first when Jamie Jones-Buchanan was judged to have obstructed play in the build up to Hurrell crossing over and then when Kallum Watkins knocked on in the air before Tom Briscoe touched down.

Super League top try-scorer Handley added to his tally to bring up his total to nine tries this season and Leeds later rallied to lead 20-4 with just over 20 minutes remaining before Castleford’s comeback.

After Minikin, Clarkson and Foster’s tries levelled the score at 20-20, Calum Turner missed the chance to put the Tigers into the lead and surely win the game when he missed the extras.

Leeds: Walker, Briscoe, Watkins, Hurrell, Handley, Sutcliffe, Myler, Peteru, Dwyer, Oledzki, Jones-Buchanan, Smith, Merrin.

Interchanges: Donaldson, Singleton, Holoryd, Parcell.

Castleford: Mata’utia, Clare, Minikin, Shenton, Eden, Trueman, McShane, Watts, Milner, Millington, Sene-Lefao, Foster, Holmes.

Interchanges: Moors, Cook, Turner, Clarkson.

Referee: B Thaler.