Lock Lane too good

Castleford Lock Lane proved too classy for the Storm in their 2nd Round Challenge Cup match on Saturday in Castleford. In just the second game of the season for the South London-ers, they acquitted themselves well against a side that demonstrated its class in bursts.

South London were a man down after just two minutes with centre Tani Kingi sin-binned for a professional foul. Cas then opened their account through a converted try to Richard Cox in the resulting set of six.

A great cut-out pass by Andrew Jackson in a well worked move sent Storm prop Louis Neethling in beside the posts in the 10th minute for a surprise leveller at 6 all.

After an evenly matched period, Castleford made a trademark rush after the 20 minute mark. Lock Lane regained their lead in the 21st minute with a try in the corner through centre Scott to make the score 10-6 and with two more rapid unconverted tries in the 25th and 28th minute made the score 18-6.

Gavin Caloo hit back in the 31st minute for the Storm, scooping up the loose ball and racing 40 metres to score next to the posts. Neethling?s conversion put the Storm back in the match at 12-18.

A Neethling penalty after a high tackle on Kingi in the 40th minute finished off a cracking first half at Lock Lane 18, Storm 14. South London, with the advantage of the breeze in the first half performed outstandingly with Mick Smith, Gavin Caloo and Mark Nesbitt standing out.

The second half commenced in similar competitive fashion before a Storm error from a scrum gave Castleford the ball in great position. They burst to life with a series of tremendous ball movement and offloading leading to tries in the 48th, 51st, 55th (all converted), 64th, 67th (converted) and 70th minutes to make the score 50-14.

South London showed great fight to come back and score the last two tries with great team play resulting in a 75th minute converted try to Nesbitt under the posts, and another to stand-off John Ferguson in the 79th minute for a final score of Lock Lane 50-Storm 24.

With the glut of possession for Lock Lane, South London had some titanic second-half performances throughout with standouts from Smith, Nesbitt, Keri Ryan, and great cameo roles from Rick Davy, Phil Molloy and Cormack Lomasney .

Castleford Lock Lane were outstanding hosts for the match, and an inspiration to the London club in terms of their infrastructure, passion and junior set-up. On the field, the Storm were beaten by a better side, but showed great courage in fighting back twice, and also demonstrated promise for the year ahead.

POWERGEN CHALLENGE CUP (ROUND TWO):

Barrow Island 10, Elland 14; Castleford Lock Lane 50, South London 24; Halton Simms Cross 16, Thornhill 24; Haydock 48, Normanton 30; Illingworth 28, Eccles 26; Milford 14, Wath Brow Hornets 34; Oldham St Annes 18, Leigh Miners 12; Rochdale Mayfield 14, Stanningley 19; Sharlston Rovers 31, Oulton 21; Siddal 29, Wigan St Patricks 26; Thatto Heath 26, East Hull 38; Waterhead 15, The Army 12; West Bowling 26, Hull Dockers 27 (aet); Wigan St Judes 22, Millom 16.