Castleford Tigers Endure Injury Woes After Dramatic Draw with Leigh Leopards
On Saturday afternoon, Castleford Tigers were held to a 28-28 draw by Leigh Leopards in a thrilling Rugby League encounter at the Leigh Sports Village. The result, however, may come at a cost for the Tigers, as they face the potential loss of two key players.
The first causality is forward Sam Hall, who was forced off the field in the first half after failing a Head Injury Assessment (HIA) and will definitely miss next weekend’s clash against St Helens. Meanwhile, the prognosis of center Sam Wood remains uncertain, with Castleford head coach Craig Lingard revealing his teammate’s injury concern after the match.
Despite the setback, the Tigers managed to produce a spirited display, leading and trailing at different stages of the game. A late try from Louis Senior and Rowan Milnes’ clutch conversion in the 79th minute leveled the scores at 28-28, forcing the game into a rare Golden Point extra time period. However, neither side could find a decisive score, resulting in the points being shared.
Castleford’s absentee list is already extensive, with Papua New Guinea forward Sylvester Namo still serving a suspension, adding to the various injury issues within the Tigers’ squad. Lingard acknowledged the potential for further additions to the casualty list, depending on the outcome of Wood’s injury assessment.
“Sam (Hall) failed his HIA and I think Sam Wood’s got a bit of a knock on his thumb. He did that in the first half and got it wrapped up,” Lingard said. “Whether he needs to go for an x-ray on that or not, we’re not too sure. Our physios are having a look at him.”
The coach also noted that the physical nature of the game had resulted in “bumps and bruises” for his players, but he does not believe there are any other significant injuries requiring major medical checks.
As Castleford Tigers look to bounce back from this setback, they will be hoping to have their full complement of players available, especially with a crucial match against Super League leaders St Helens on the horizon.
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