A dramatic try two minutes from time by top scorer Jay Weatherill kept Wath Brow Hornets on the tails of the leading pair in the NCL Premier Division.
They had drawn in Lock Lane early in the season and a repeat looked on the cards when they were all square 24-24 heading towards the final whistle.
But Weatherill struck late to score an unconverted try and give the Brow another important win which keeps them three points behind Hunslet Amateurs and two behind West Hull with three games to play.
It was a game which Hornets should probably have wrapped up before they did as they led by 12 points on several different occasions only for the Castleford side to stay in the contest.
If Weatherill was the match-winner, Nathan Lucock was a strong contender for man of the match with a hat-trick of tries. Jake Moore also cross and Cole Walker-Taylor kicked four goals.
At the other end of the table Kells were heavily beaten 48-4 at Siddal to stay fourth bottom but probably just need one more win from their last four games to be sure of staying up.
Siddal were 24-0 ahead in the first-half before veteran Paul Culnean, a member of the Kells coaching team, scored an unconverted try for the Cumbrians.
The Halifax side went on to double their tally in the second-half but Kells couldn’t add to the Culnean try.
Egremont Rangers are still on course to make an instant return to the Premier Division. With two games left to play it is between them and Heworth as to who goes up automatically and who has to go into the play-offs.
The Rangers beat Oulton Raiders 40-10 at Gillfoot while Heworth won 36-4 at Clock Face Miners so both stay on 26 points. Crucially Egremont have a 76 points pull on scoring differential.
It was only 14-6 at half-time but Egremont, as they have done on previous occasions, powered away to win comfortably after the changeround.
Egremont roared to a sixth successive victory, avenging a 22-2 defeat earlier in the season, as they scored tries through Leon Crellin (2), Matt Bewsher, Sam Appleby, Mike Ellwood, Jack Conway and Aaron Turnbull. Kris Tyson landed six goals.
Barrow Island are still pursuing a play-off place in Division Two although it wasn’t plain sailing against bottom side East Leeds. They eventually collected the points from a 24-16 win after the visitors had staged a second-half recovery.
The visitors had travelled with just 15 men and trailing 18-0 at the break had a man sin-binned early in the second-half. Even so they battled well and won the second-half 16-6.
Fortunately the Islanders had credit in the bank and won with tries by Cameron Currie, Jack Sutherland, Fin Dutton-Rosconie and Chris Burns, all converted by Sam Burns.
The south Cumbrians will be watching closely for the result from Thursday night’s rearranged game between Wigan St Judes and Normanton Knights, two of the sides just below them and rivals for a play-off place.
In Division Three Ellenborough are back as joint leaders with one game left to play, the same as Oldham St. Anne’s.
Ahead of that final fixture the Oldham side have a mere five points advantage on scoring differential.
Elbra were 38-6 winners at home to Seaton Rangers while Oldham St Anne’s were beaten 28-22 at home by Leigh East. That was Leigh East’s final fixture and they look like finishing in third unless Millom can produce two big wins in their final two games.
Against Seaton the powerful Ellenborough pack dominated proceedings and by half-time they were leading 22-0. They finished with seven tries from Johnny Goulding (2), Zac Olstrom (2), Owen Hoyles, Andy Ostle and John Todd. Hoyles kicked five goals.
Jon-Paul Bryan scored the Seaton points on the hour with a try and conversion, but Seaton’s season-long injury curse continued with a broken collarbone for Dom Smallwood.
Millom will look to close the gap on Leigh East to grab third spot after they had a comfortable 30-10 home win against Drighlington.
Former Barrow and Workington Town forward Connor Terrill scored two of the six tries with Aiden Wilson, Jonathan Hodgson, Niall Harris and Amanaki Saumaki also touching down.
In a depleted programme because of the Challenge Cup final at Wembley, Millom will be in action on Saturday at home to Eastmoor Dragons bidding to peg back some of the points and scoring differential on Leigh East.
Hensingham are now condemned to a second successive re-election plea after they drew 20-20 at home to play-off hopefuls Beverley.
It was 12-12 at half-time and Hensingham were ahead 20-12 with just seven minutes left to play but were denied victory by two late Beverley .
Former Workington and Whitehaven prop forward stalwart Kris Coward, Dylan Bragg, Callum Morgan and Dan McGarry scored the Hensingham tries, two of which were converted by Adam Williamson.
