Out-of-sorts Bulls suffered their sixth defeat on the bounce as a Michael Shenton hat-trick led Castleford to a third straight win.

This morning's 28-22 loss at the Jungle also saw the hosts move within one point of Bradford in the final play-off spot.

Bulls struck first as Elliott Whitehead coasted in near the posts after Andy Lynch had been held up just short of the line, Paul Sykes adding the goal.

But Cas were quickly on the board themselves, sweeping the ball to their right flank where Dean Widders released Michael Shenton to plunge over in the corner.

The home side added a second try in the 16th minute after Michael Platt and Sykes failed to check Rangi Chase's charge, although the dangerous Cas playmaker almost dropped the ball as he touched down.

Steve Menzies restored Bulls' advantage ten minutes later, setting up and finishing their second try from Chris Nero's pass to put them 10-8 ahead at the break.

But it was a slim lead considering Cas had enjoyed the better opportunities, Joe Westerman's three missed kicks the main reason they were trailing.

The second half began in disjointed fashion with a flurry of penalties as the sides squared it up at 12-12, Kirk Dixon successfully landing two after taking over home kicking duties.

It needed a moment of quality to break the deadlock and Menzies provided that just after the hour. Taking a reverse pass from Sykes, the veteran Aussie weaved through the Cas defence before slipping a perfectly-weighted pass for Kearney to finish.

But Bulls were pegged back once again, sloppy defence allowing Dixon to score from Mitchell Sargent's kick to the corner under little pressure.

With ten minutes left, it was all to play for. But the pressure was growing on the visitors and Shenton took full advantage after the Bulls were forced into a goalline drop out.

Shenton struck again with five minutes left and although Michael Platt ran in a late consolation it could not save Bulls from yet another loss.

TIGERS: McGoldrick; Dixon, Shenton, Arundel, Wainwright; Widders, Chase; Higgins, Hudson, Huby; Ferres, Snitch, Westerman. Interchange: Sargent, Jones, Jackson, Wood.

BULLS: Kearney; Sheriffe, Platt, Nero, Halley; Sykes, Southernwood; Lynch, L'Estrange, Hall; Whitehead, Langley, Menzies. Interchange: Kopczak, Worrincy, Godwin, Addy.