Mahe Fonua’s final score contributed to Castleford Tigers overcome a resounding defeat to the bottom team Toulouse in the Stade Ernest Wallon.
Olly Ashall-Bott scored to put Toulouse ahead, but Suaia Matagi scored for Cas after the teams came into a level match after a close first half.
Matty Russell helped the hosts get back in the lead, however, George Griffin brought the visitors to level prior to Danny Richardson and Chris Hankinson swapped penalties.
But Fonua was able to get through to score the Tigers the third win away of the season.
Both teams started in search of a win. the bottom side of Toulouse trying to stay in touch with the teams above and Castleford trying to make amends for an unbeaten run in the space of four.
Both defenses were dominant in the first 20 minutes. Latrell Schaumkel putting in a great effort to block Greg Eden’s run on the wing for Cas as Anthony Marion went over for Cas before 17 minutes of game was stopped.
It was snapped by the hosts following 27 minutes as Ashall-Bott capped two sets in succession to run on for his fourth attempt in a row But Matagi was thrown into the goal to draw Cas the score to a level just seven minutes later.
Cas ended the opening half with a win However, the Toulouse defence was strong and, just a few minutes into the second half Hankinson’s perfect pass put Matty Russell on the pitch to restore the lead of the hosts.
Toulouse continue to be a threat but were stopped to a point by Griffin who drove through shortly after Ryan Hampshire’s 70-metre run.
Richardson’s penalty brought Tigers ahead at first, with only 18 minutes to go before Hankinson’s goal tied the score once more.
The Toulouse resistance finally broke after eight minutes after Fonua went inside, found an opening and exploded through to condemn the French to their 13th defeat of the season.
Toulouse boss Sylvain Houles:
“We still believe. It is evident that the players and the staff are tired of losing.
“We’re not lacking in efforts at any level in this club, and we’ll fight until we can’t continue to do it any longer.
“We believe in ourselves and our task remains the same. We have twelve games left and three teams ahead of us by 10 points.
“So we’ll go out and find them we’re aware of what we must do.
“Every game today is an opportunity to win a million Pound event as well as a Grand Final for us. We need to be ready for each of these opportunities. “
Castleford Head Coach Lee Radford:
“That’s an extremely satisfying outcome in these hot conditions. The day before they arrived, they stated that it was going to be in the 31 degree mark, but in the sun, it felt more hot on the pitch.
“It’s difficult to be prepared for this even the home team struggled, but I can see why they finish high and are extremely disciplined under these conditions. You need to do so, in order to survive.
“We made the most of our chances and they did too but we must improve our defense. Our efforts probably earned us the outcome today. “
Toulouse: Navarrete, Peats, Alvaro, Peyroux, Dixon, Marion, Albert, Norman, Russell, Hankinson, Jussaume, Schaumkel, Ashall-Bott.
Interchanges: Pelissier, Hansen, Puech, Paulo.
Castleford: Massey, McShane, Griffin, Edwards, Milner, Westerman, Trueman, Richardson, Eden, Fonua, Blair, Faraimo, Hampshire.
Interchanges: Olpherts, Watts, Matagi, Martin.
Referee: J Child.
