http://www.ayberspace.co.uk/ Independent Castleford Tigers RLFC news, views, comment and humour from the Aye of the Tigers http://www.ayberspace.co.uk/ayberspace/php-files/news.php?readmore=565 It was always going to be a tough ask for Cas to open their account over at the reigning Champions place, and so it proved. Really tough... ... We still won mind! A nip and tuck first half saw the home side just edging things at the break, but while everyone expected Leeds to come out and blitz it in the second it was actually the Tigers who took charge, excelling in defence and converting more of the wonderful chances they created. In the end eighteen unanswered second half points clinched the game and secured a memorable start to the new season. Well, 2010 is the Year of the Tiger after all! Click HERE for our gameday summary. ]]> http://www.ayberspace.co.uk/ayberspace/php-files/news.php?readmore=564 Coach Matterson has today named the nineteen man squad for Friday's tough Super League opener against the Whinos. Steve Snitch is in line to make his debut for the Tigers while young starlet John Davies is also included in the squad. The nineteen is: 1. RICHARD OWEN, 3. MICHAEL SHENTON, 4. JAMES EVANS, 5. MICHAEL WAINWRIGHT, 6. RANGI CHASE, 7. BRENT SHERWIN, 8. MITCHELL SARGENT, 9. RYAN HUDSON, 10. CRAIG HUBY, 11. BRETT FERRES, 12. STEVE SNITCH, 13. JOE WESTERMAN, 14. STUART JONES, 15. LIAM HIGGINS, 16. PAUL JACKSON, 19. KIRK NETHERTON, 22. JOHN DAVIES, 23. RYAN McGOLDRICK, 25. DEAN WIDDERS ]]> http://www.ayberspace.co.uk/ayberspace/php-files/news.php?readmore=563 Well the footy season is upon us on both sides of the world although in very different climates. Here in OZ it bloody hot and I can’t stop sweating and over your way you freezing your proverbials off. But they are just minor matters, who cares about the temperature, when you know very soon the whistles going to blow and it’s on again for another year. The Super League starts earlier than the NRL or QLD Cup with our competitions not kicking off until mid March but our trials start on the 13th February. I will get up and watch the World Club Final as I do each year and during the season we get two Super League games per weekend one live and one delayed, so I still get my fix of the Super League to keep me sane. Burleigh Bears are shaping up ok and have been training the house down, so let’s hope we have a good year. I am pretty busy in my role as CEO, organising everything for the start of the season and making sure everyone is happy. We have Mark Lennon here at the Bears this year, so we have been talking a fair bit about the great times we had at Castleford. I am also still taking the piss out of him, as some things don’t change, haha. Ian Proctor the Super League stats guru popped into the club the other day for a chat, which was nice of him, I often run into someone from the UK in my travels and talk Rugby League. I also coach a Gold Coast Under 18’s representative side in my spare time, and our competition starts on the 13th February and goes until mid April. I enjoy coaching and it’s something I am very passionate about and I love the fact that you have to get into to people heads to try and work out what makes them tick. With 18 year old it’s even harder because half the time they don’t know what’s going on in there head let alone me. Hopefully the mighty Tigers can have a big year in 2010 and really make an impression on Super League. I will be cheering from afar as I always do and I am hoping we make a Challenge Cup Final or Super League Grand Final and Richard may fly me over to watch (hint hint Rich), actually he can do it for any game if he wants. The thing I miss over here is the atmosphere of the crowds they are just so much better over there. There used to be nothing better than playing to a full house at the Jungle and hearing everyone singing etc, gives me goose bumps now as I think about it. I talk to a fair few supporters on Facebook and everyone seems to be looking forward to the season starting and Terry Matterson and the boys doing the job. (very sorry to hear Box lost his finger but showed his true character by not complaining and getting on with the job). Also congrats to Matty Merrick on 20 years at the Tigers, that is an achievement in itself and I hope he gets the recognition he deserves off the Club – well down Dr Evil. Well until next time goodbye from Down Under. The Assassin]]> http://www.ayberspace.co.uk/ayberspace/php-files/news.php?readmore=562 Some of the more astute of you may have noticed we are having a few problems with updating various parts of the site recently (there's no truth in the rumours we haven't paid the bill...!!). We have been experiencing some technical difficulties at the worst possible time, but we're happy to report that over the course of the weekend we should be getting everything back to normal. First up, of course, that means you can keep it right here and not miss a second of the Tigers first competitive match of the 2010 season tomorrow night. We'll have a full gameday coverage ourselves plus links to live radio commentary from Radio Leeds and Yorkshire Radio. So don't miss it! Also, for those of you desperate to get cracking with Aye-Lie SLXV, we have good news! Our issues may have hampered the start of this year's comp, but we will be kicking off from Round 2 next week. Keep watching for that, and here's to no more problems through the season (yeah right!). Thanks for your patience.]]> http://www.ayberspace.co.uk/ayberspace/php-files/news.php?readmore=561 The Tigers were behind from the fifth minute when Ex-Cas loanee Luke Robinson intercepted a Rangi pass intended for Snitchy and raced 70 metres to score a try converted by Brett Hodgson. A second try soon followed as another Ex-Cas player Shaun Lunt dived over from acting half back and Hodgson's goal made it 12-0. The Tigers failed to get much of a foothold until the half hour mark when they forced a drop-out after Rangi put in a grubber kick that was palmed away to safety by Leroy Cudjoe. The visitors got a third try on 34 minutes when Gilmour raced onto a smart pass by Robinson to go over. Hodgson's conversion made it 18-0 at the break. A half time bollocking from TM saw the Tigers looking much livelier in the second half as they went straight onto the attack and worked several opportunities, mostly down their left. Micky Wainwright was unlucky to put a foot in touch in his attempt to squeeze over in the corner, Shenny was then tackled just short and when the ball was moved across to the other flank substitute winger Jordan Thompson was also denied by a tackle on the line as the Tigers piled on the pressure. That pressure finally brought reward on 48 minutes when Wainy did get over the line from Shennys pass and Westy kicked a touchline conversion. Another goal-line drop-out was forced and Shenny was tackled in touch three metres out, but from their first attack of the half the Giants scored again, Josh Griffin added a further score, following up Graham Horne's grubber kick to the corner, and it was 28-6. The Tigers kept going though and managed the final try of the evening when Rangi's looping pass drew Jermaine McGilvary out of the Giants defensive line and Shenny took advantage to race in for an unconverted try. All in all it was a pretty poor performance from the boys but that second half did give us some hope and it was nice to see the boys come through without any injuries. Cas Scorers:- Tries: Wainwright,Shenton Goal: Westerman ]]> http://www.ayberspace.co.uk/ayberspace/php-files/news.php?readmore=560 The Tigers expect to be very close to full strength for Tuesdays pre-season clash with the Giants at the Jungle. T M said that he will be finalising his team from 23 players. Four of the youngsters in his squad figured in Sundays win over Gateshead but the game offers a final opportunity for those players who missed the game in France (Rangi!!!) to have a hit out before the big kick off. For the Tigers squad a number will be relishing meeting up with former team mates with Steve Snitch (pic.right ) looking to continue the good form he has shown in our pre-season outings. The match kicks off at 7.30pm, admission is £12 adults/concessions £6. Big thanks to www.castigers.com ]]> http://www.ayberspace.co.uk/ayberspace/php-files/news.php?readmore=559 The Tigers, who fielded a largely under 20’s side, demolished visitors Gateshead Thunder on a drab and miserable sunday afternoon at the Jungle. It was an entertaining game which saw the young Tigers side come up with an emphatic victory over the new look Thunder, showing immense character as we contunued our preparations for the forthcoming season. Tigers line up: Sam Lynch (T); Josh Atkinson, Joe Arundel (T), Nathan Chappell, Josh Nathanial; Ed Barber (T, 6G), Ryan Brierley; Jonathan Walker' Adam Milner (T),Nathan Massey, Oliver Holmes, Richard Wilcock John Davies (3T). Subs Jacob Senior (T), Cayci Pearson, John Elkington, Greg Eden, Karl Smirk, Neil Clarke, Matthew Dawson, Christian Duncan, Jordan Thompson (T). Thanks to www.castigers.com for the report]]> http://www.ayberspace.co.uk/ayberspace/php-files/news.php?readmore=558 It might have been easier to actually walk to the game and watch it than try and figure out the Radio Marseillette commentary, but we've got the result in the end. Cas won! The first game of our two friendly weekend is in the bag therefore, even though we didn't really find out until a hours later. Check out our pathetic excuse for a gameday report HERE.]]> http://www.ayberspace.co.uk/ayberspace/php-files/news.php?readmore=557 It's a busy one this weekend as the Tigers have not one but two friendly matches to play. Admittedly, the game at York tomorrow will be contested by the reserves but before that it's a frustrating search for updates as the main squad test themselves in Perpignan against the Catalans. And the only news coming from France at the moment is of a bizarre injury to head coach Terry Matterson, who is said (in some reports) to have ripped off a finger by leaping over a wire fence to retrieve a ball during a training session. The official Tigers site has confirmed that TM has "suffered an injury" which required hospitalisation, but it seems a weird one to lose a finger by just jumping over a wall. The truth will out in the end no doubt, but for now we understand Terry is back with the squad ahead of the game this evening. We can't promise much in the way of updates, but whatever we can bring you will be on our Gameday page, right HERE.]]> http://www.ayberspace.co.uk/ayberspace/php-files/news.php?readmore=556 The Tigers have today announced the first official fixture change of the 2010 season with the news that, at the request of the Goons, the Wigan away game in June is to be moved from Friday 4th to Sunday 6th, with a revised kick off time of 3.00pm. Meddling Goons! We've already pdated our fixtures page, so all that remains is for you lovely readers to scrawl the modification all over those lovely (out of date) planners. Sigh...]]>