Harlequins (10) 26
Tries: Bryan, Clubb 2, Dorn, Ellis Goals: Gale 3

Castleford (12) 26
Tries: Owen 2, Chase, Clark Goals: Dixon 5

Kirk Dixon is Super League's top kicker with 45 goals

Castleford winger Kirk Dixon kicked a controversial last-minute penalty to rescue a point at The Stoop but could not stop the Tigers slipping to third.

Quins looked set for their first win in five games when hooker Andy Ellis scored less than two minutes from time.

But, from the restart, Cas were awarded a penalty and Dixon kept his nerve to land his fifth kick of the night.

Quins still outscored the leaders five tries to four, through Lamont Bryan, Luke Dorn and centre Tony Clubb (2).

Young winger Richard Owen crossed twice for Cas, whose other tries came from Rangi Chase and Daryl Clark.

Having dominated for much of the contest, at 24-10 with just 12 minutes left, Cas ought to have had it wrapped up.

But, when the Londoners crossed for three tries in the final 12 minutes to set up a frantic finale, it needed Dixon's last-gasp heroics to stretch Cas's record this season to just one defeat in nine games.

Having shipped 198 points in their previous four games to abruptly curtail their fine start ot the campaign, it was something of a shock when Quins took the lead on 16 minutes, Bryan racing over after excellent link-up play between Gale and Luke Dorn.

But that lead was shortlived, the mercurial Chase toying with the home defence before delivering the try-scoring pass to Owen, who cruised over in the corner.

The Tigers had their tails up and suddenly were finding gaps, Chase himself nudging the visitors into the lead when he was on hand to finish off a Dixon break on 26 minutes.

Expectations have got way out of hand for us and this game will be a very good lesson for everybody Castleford coach Terry Matterson

That seemed to stir the men from the capital back into life, Clubb squeezing over from close range moments later to drag the hosts right back into the contest at 10-12 at the break.

The Tigers were quickest out of the traps after the interval and it was Chase involved again, leading the home defence a merry dance before a flat pass saw winger Owen sneak in for his double.

Cas were now firmly on the front foot and, minutes later, they stretched further ahead, Daryl Clarke strolling over after a break from Craig Huby.

Gale did think he had once again dragged the Londoners back into the contest on the hour mark, only for his scrambled effort to be chalked off.

But the hosts did get on the board again with 12 minutes to go, Dorn racing clear from inside his own half and then rounding off the score himself after a wave of assaults on the Tigers line.

Suddenly, there was life in the contest and, when Clubb bulldozed over with seven minutes remaining, it really was game on.

Quins then thought they had won it when Ellis crossed, Gale adding the extras from in front of the posts, only for Dixon's effort to peg them back again.

Harlequins coach Rob Powell:

"Obviously, we would have liked to win but the manner of our fightback was more important to me. It is all about mental strength in adversity and we will get stronger.

"The majority of the game I was very happy with and defensively we were a lot stronger. We just need to be smarter.

"It is not a case of fatigue or anything like that it is about being switched on. The challenge for us as a team is to learn to do this stuff right from the start, not keep having to fight our way back into games all the time."

Castleford coach Terry Matterson:

"Expectations have got way out of hand for us and I think this game will be a very good lesson for everybody.

"I thought we were sluggish at the start and we looked a bit lethargic but we really worked our way into the contest.

"But we got too loose, we got a bit flashy and we almost got punished. Credit to Quins as they produced some good stuff at the end but it should have been all over by then."

Harlequins: Dorn; O'Callaghan, Clubb, Howell, Melling; Gale, Randall; Ambler, Ellis, Temata, Bailey, Purdham, Wilkes.

Replacements: Pryce, Williams, Bryan, Bolger.

Castleford: Mathers; Dixon, Ferres, Arundel, Owen; Chase, Orr; Jackson, Hudson, Huby, Aspinwall, Widders, Holmes.

Replacements: Emmitt, Snitch, Fozzard, Clark.

Attendance: 4,128.

Referee: M Thomason (RFL).

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