Wigan Warriors 22
Tries: Leuluai, Pryce, Goulding, J Tomkins, Ainscough
Goals: Roberts
Castleford Tigers 28
Tries: Westerman, Ferres 2, Dixon, Shenton
Goals: Dixon 4
Wigan Warriors are still in search of their first win of the season as Castleford recorded a 22 -28 win at the JJB Stadium on Friday night.
It was Castleford who held on with both sides scoring five tries apiece. In the end it was to be the missed conversions that cost Wigan dearly, no Pat Richards and most of the tries scored out wide.
Castleford led 24-10 with 50 minutes on the clock but three tries in a seven minute spell brought it back to 22-24 but Wigan were just unable to muster a winning score.
Wigan Warriors gave Super League debuts to 19 year old winger Shaun Ainscough on the left and Karl Pryce on the right. The home side were without the injured Cameron Phelps (hamstring), Pat Richards (calf), Phil Bailey (shoulder) and the suspended Richard Mathers.
Castleford came close to opening the scoring on 4 minutes, the ball spread wide and Kirk Dixon away but he put a foot in touch down the right side before grounding.
At the other end Wigan also came close, Ainscough denied on debut from a forward O’Loughlin pass spotted by referee Steve Ganson.
The Tigers themselves then thought they had scored again on 10 minutes through Richard Owen but a double movement the call.
The first points eventually came on the board on 13 minutes through a Dixon penalty, Wigan guilty of crossing, 0-2. Dixon added another penalty shortly after to make it 0-4 to the visitors.
On 25 minutes, Wigan at last found a way through, McIlorum out to Thomas Leuluai and the scrum half squeezed through the Tigers defence for the games first try. With no Richards, Amos Roberts landed the conversion, 6-4.
On 30 minutes an incident involving McIlorum was put on report for a grounding in a tackle, this the second incident to be looked at later, earlier the visitors had also been put on report close to the Wigan line.
On 34 a clever Sherwin short kick into the try area was dived upon by loose forward Joe Westerman for the Tigers first try. Dixon added the extras to make it 6-10.
Within a couple of minutes the visitors were in again, Shenton with a break down the left and Brett Ferres was in support on the inside for the touchdown. Dixons goal made it 6-16.
The half time hooter sounded with an uphill task facing Brian Noble and his side.
Wigan got off to the ideal start after the break, Smith and Roberts combining to send in Karl Pryce out wide on 43 minutes. The full back missed the goal but the Warriors back in it at 10-16.
Castleford hit straight back and a huge Sherwin cross field bomb was taken by Evans and he had support from Dixon for the try in the corner. Dixon’s conversion was just wide, 10-20.
On 50, Cas were in again, Ferres with his second try as he palmed away Tim Smith to cross unopposed. The goal was again missed but Terry Matterson’s men had opened up a fourteen point advantage.
Wigan needed the next try and they got it, quick hands to the right found a gap in the Tigers defence and it was centre Darrell Goulding who got the third home try of the night just before the hour mark. A difficult conversion was missed by Roberts, 14-24.
On 62 minutes a Joel Tomkins try brought the cherry and whites back again within touching distance. A sweeping move as first Carmont broke then Roberts. Tomkins with quick thinking from dummy half for the four points, this time Riddell missed the goal.
Within three minutes Hansen with a break down the left and debutant Shaun Ainscough was able to keep in field to race away for his first try for the Club at this level. Roberts struck the attempted goal wide, 22-24.
Wigan tried desperately to complete the comeback but it wasn’t to be as the Tigers held on for the points and indeed added a late late try themselves through Michael Shenton as the hooter sounded,the goal was missed and it ended 22-28.
Wigan Warriors: Amos Roberts, Karl Pryce, Darrell Goulding, George Carmont, Shaun Ainscough, Tim Smith, Thomas Leuluai, Stuart Fielden, Mark Riddell, Eamon O'Carroll, Gareth Hock, Joel Tomkins, Sean O'Loughlin
Subs: Iafeta Paleaaesina, Andy Coley, Harrison Hansen, Michael McIlorum
Castleford Tigers: Ryan McGoldrick, Richard Owen, Michael Shenton, James Evans, Kirk Dixon, Sione Faumuina, Brent Sherwin, Liam Higgins, Ryan Hudson, Craig Huby, Brett Ferres, Stuart Jones, Joe Westerman
Subs: Rangi Chase, Mitchell Sargent, Chris Feather, Kirk Netherton.
Referee: Steve Ganson
Attendance: 12,079
Print this page
