PROMOTED WIBSEY overcame the handicap of having fly half Harry Hall sent off on the half-hour to record an opening-day 31-15 win over Castleford, who were fifth last season in Yorkshire Division Three.

Hall was dismissed for an unintentional high tackle on a visiting centre, whose midfield partner took it upon himself to get involved in the ensuing melee and was dismissed for punching.

Castleford were a big side and had the better of the opening 15 minutes, taking the lead with a penalty from halfway by their scrum half in the 11th minute.

However, Wibsey full back Ryan Smith more than cancelled that out with a try on his debut in the 20th minute, running the ball out of his 22 before the forwards got involved but then being up in support to score.

The hosts got a penalty for retaliation after the double dismissal and scored a try from the resulting attack via Robson Moore, with scrum half Andy Robinson adding the conversion to give Wibsey a 12-3 interval lead.

Home centre Adam Jefferson, playing his first game of union after being brought up on rugby league, became the second debutant to score, twisting his way over in the 50th minute, with Robinson again adding the extra two points.

Winger Bruce Mpofu clinched the bonus-point try in the 57th minute from a quality move, with Smith putting his team-mate in when he could have gone himself.

Wibsey then rather took their foot off the gas and had No 8 Michael Kite sin-binned in the 75th minute, with Castleford responding with a try either side of the yellow card, one of which was converted.

However, the Yorkshire Division Four champions had the final word with a second try for Moore, which Robinson again converted.

Flanker Luke Wilson was Wibsey’s man of the match.