Catalans Dragons Spoil Castleford's Centenary Night as Power Cut Delays Second Half

Castleford Tigers marked 100 years since their first-ever match with a centenary celebration at their final home game of the Super League season. The opposition, Catalans Dragons, spoiled the party with a 34-6 win — and a 35-minute power outage did the atmosphere no favours either BBC Sport.

Castleford had billed the fixture as their "Official Centenary Celebration Match" Castleford Tigers, a nod to the club's founding moment a century ago. A decent home crowd turned out to mark the milestone. They saw their side trail 12-6 at half-time, with the game still in the balance.

Then the lights went out. A power outage halted play for 35 minutes during the second half, with Catalans leading 16-6 at the time BBC Sport. In rugby league, a long stoppage like that is awkward for both sides — players lose their rhythm, muscles go cold, and coaches have to keep squads focused in a dressing room rather than on the pitch. When the teams returned, Catalans took full control.

Toby Sexton crossed for two tries — a "try" being rugby league's four-point score, grounded over the opposition's try line. Edenn Rogers-Smith, Leo Darrelatour, Ben Condon and Lewis Dodd each added one of their own as the French side ran away with the contest after the restart BBC Sport. Castleford managed just a single try through Lazarus Vaalepu, and the 34-6 final scoreline reflected a one-sided second half.

For Castleford, the night was always going to be about more than the result. A century of rugby league in a single West Yorkshire town is something worth celebrating, regardless of what the scoreboard says. The club has endured plenty of tough seasons over those hundred years, and this campaign — with the Tigers well off the playoff pace — fits that mould.

For Catalans, the win is a useful one as they look to build momentum through the business end of the season. Sexton's brace and the spread of try-scorers across the side suggest a team finding its groove at the right time.

The power cut will not be remembered as fondly as the centenary. But the night belonged to the milestone, even if the match did not.