Injury-hit Castleford are cruelly denied by Warriors

The Australian announced on Monday he will be leaving at the end of the season but the sterling work he has achieved with the West Yorkshire club was there for all to see as his side – missing an unprecedented 11 regulars – gave the reigning champions an almighty fright.

Brave Castleford, who fielded eight home-grown players aged 21 or under, led 16-10 at half-time and, although the hosts predictably powered back in the second period, a controversially disallowed try by Brett Ferres on the hour mark could have seen them earn a famous victory.

Even the Wigan coach Michael Maguire was caught on camera looking bemused when video referee Phil Bentham ruled it out; if ever there was an occasion when ‘benefit of the doubt’ was required, this was it following countless inconclusive replays as to whether Chris Tuson’s leg had denied the Castleford centre.

As it was, Wigan, who had to fight to draw at Castleford last month, held on and usurped Warrington into pole position for the first time this season aside from a 24-hour spell a few weeks ago.

The gallant visitors became the third Yorkshire club to lose at the DW Stadium in just 11 days after both Huddersfield Giants and Leeds Rhinos had fallen but their defensive effort last night was outstanding, encapsulated when Ferres did brilliantly to deny Thomas Leuluai late on when the game was already up.

Richie Mathers had been a late pull-out after another ex-Wigan player – captain Danny Orr – and experienced hooker Ryan Hudson had both failed fitness tests yesterday morning.

But Tigers shrugged off those losses along with the likes of Kirk Dixon, Nick Youngquest and Jordan Thompson, the young centre who last night signed a new two-year deal, to readily impress.

In that first half amid slanting rain, they controlled the ball better than their illustrious hosts and proved determined and physical defenders.

Josh Charnley had given Wigan a fourth-minute lead after collecting Paul Deacon’s pinpoint kick, the try’s creator converting, but it did not start the expected points avalanche.

Instead, the Tigers – already further weakened after prop Nick Fozzard limped off in the early moments and with Jake Emmitt stretchered off in the last minute – responded with their first attack on 11 minutes, ex-Wigan second-rower Stuart Jones sliding over after a cleverly-delayed Ryan McGoldrick pass confused Brett Finch.

They clinically seized their second chance soon after when a set move involving Rangi Chase and McGoldrick saw Dean Widders fire out a wonderful long ball which winger Richie Owen mopped up with aplomb to leave the majority of the 13,096 crowd stunned.

Joe Arundel kicked the touchline conversion and Wigan’s usual slick efficiency was off, even captain Sean O’Loughlin being dragged down as his defence-splitting pass to an on-rushing Joel Tomkins was ruled forward.

It was a sign of Castleford’s impressive solidity though that the England second-row was held up regardless as he crossed the line while his younger brother Sam felt the full force of the visitors’ doggedness when Adam Milner collared him with a heavy tackle.

Wigan did level when Charnley added his second in the 28th minute, Deacon’s looping pass being shifted on by Joel Tomkins, but then they had Gareth Hock – only playing his second game since completing a two-year drug ban – urging the sideline to come off due to an apparent groin injury.

Castleford remained disciplined in possession, making excellent yards up Wigan’s usually dominant middle, and they regained the advantage when Sam Tomkins could not hold on to Chase’s grubber on his own line after being clattered by the legs of Widders.

John Davies – the 20-year-old only playing his first Super League game of the year after Hudson’s late withdrawal – dived on the loose ball four minutes before the break to score and Arundel added the extras.

Greg Eden almost gifted Wigan a reply early in the second half when he lost the ball after being dragged back behind his own line under heavy pressure but thankfully for the young winger Tuson spilled too.

However, Deacon expertly slipped Liam Farrell through a gap on 48 minutes after Sam Tomkins had created some holes in their defence, his conversion levelling the score.

George Carmont then put them in front six minutes later when Wigan shifted wide to the left and Joel Tomkins rolled out of Widders’ tackle.

Ryan Hoffman quickly added another which Deacon improved but Castleford, who saw loan signing Rob Parker make an impressive debut, will rue Ferres’s disallowed effort at 26-16 with 20 minutes to go.

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Wigan Warriors: S Tomkins; Charnley, J Tomkins, Carmont, Goulding; Finch, Deacon; Mossop, Leuluai, Lima, Hansen, Farrell, O’Loughlin. Substitutes: Hoffman, Tuson, McIlorum, Hock.

Castleford Tigers: McGoldrick; Eden, Arundel, Ferres, Owen; Widders, Chase; Fozzard, Milner, Emmitt, Jones, Holmes, Snitch. Substitutes: Massey, Davies, Clark, Parker.

Referee: Steve Ganson (St Helens)