Warriors overcome tough Tigers
- Wigan Warriors secure victory over Castleford Tigers at the Halliwell Jones Stadium.
- Tries from Liam Farrell, Joe Bullock, Ben Flower, Sam Powell and Joe Burgess.
- Full time: Wigan Warriors 30-22 Castleford Tigers
Wigan Warriors secured a hard fought win over Castleford Tigers in an end-to-end battle at the Halliwell Jones Stadium on Saturday afternoon.
Adrian Lam’s side made it three wins from three games following the resumption of the Betfred Super League thanks to tries from Sam Powell, Joe Burgess, Ben Flower, Liam Farrell and Joe Bullock.
A positive opening 15 minutes for the Warriors was turned on its head in the 16th when Gareth Obrien crossed for Castleford’s opening try. A repeat set of six for a leg pull gave the Tigers a second chance at the Wigan line which the Castleford full-back took advantage of.
Things didn’t get much easier for the Warriors and just minutes after winger Liam Marshall left the field with a knee injury, leaving the Cherry and Whites to reshuffle the pack.
Daryl Powell’s side struck again in the 21th-minute, with Nathan Massey powering over for the second try of the match.
Wigan got themselves back into the tie in the 25th-minute through a quick bit of thinking from Powell. Taking the ball from dummy-half, the hooker caught the Cas line napping and crossed for Wigan’s first try.
Just two minutes later the Warriors struck again – this time Burgess running in a four-pointer in the corner thanks to a line-break from Farrell. Zak Hardaker missed the conversion to leave Castleford just two points ahead.
Lam’s men took the lead in the 34th via a powerful Flower finish. After returning from a back injury to face Castleford, the prop forward had barely been on the field ten minutes before scoring.
The second half began with a long delay as Castleford’s James Clare received lengthy treatment on the field for a neck injury just two minutes after resumption. Morgan Smithies was shown a yellow card for his part in the tackle deemed dangerous.
Castleford made their extra man count in the 46th when winger Derrell Olpherts crossed in the corner, levelling the scores at 16-all.
Wigan nudged back into the lead in the 54th after a penalty was awarded for obstruction on Farrell, with Hardaker kicking successfully from 30 metres for the two points.
Farrell grabbed the Warriors’ fourth try in the 61st-minute, latching onto a short ball to run diagonally through the Cas line and score.
Bullock increased Wigan’s lead six minutes later – after Jackson Hastings provided a great short ball for the prop to carry and power over by the uprights. The attack was the result of a brilliant 40/20 from young half-back Harry Smith.
The Tigers grabbed a try back in the 75th through Michael Shenton after collecting a loose ball missed by Hardaker in the Warriors’ end zone. The final score 30-22 to Wigan.
Wigan Warriors: Bevan French, Liam Marshall, Zak Hardaker, Jake Bibby, Joe Burgess, Tommy Leuluai, Jackson Hastings, Joe Bullock, Sam Powell, Liam Byrne, Willie Isa, Liam Farrell, Ethan Havard.
Interchanges: George Burgess, Ben Flower, Harry Smith, Morgan Smithies.
Tries: Powell (25′), J. Burgess (27′), Flower (34′), Farrell (61′), Bullock (68′)
Conversions: Hardaker (4/5)
Penalties: Hardaker (54′)
Yellow cards: Smithies (43′)
Castleford Tigers: Gareth O’Brien, Derrell Olpherts, Alex Foster, Michael Shenton, James Clare, Jake Trueman, Danny Richardson, Liam Watts, Paul McShane, George Griffin, Oliver Holmes, Mike McMeeken, Nathan Massey.
Interchanges: Grant Millington, Adam Milner, Jesse Sene-Lefao, Daniel Smith.
Tries: O’Brien (16′), Massey (22′), Olpherts (46′), Shenton (75′)
Conversions: Richardson (3/4)
