Widders clinches derby win with late Tigers try

The slack manner of some of its defensive organisation and attacking execution meant it was not a patch on the worst of NRL encounters.

It just added to the growing argument that there is not enough quality to sustain a 14-club Super League.

However, there is no denying, when it comes to sheer drama and excitement, Wakefield versus Castleford more often than not produces the goods.

Until three weeks ago, everyone thought this would be the last such warring derby affair between the fierce West Yorkshire neighbours for at least three years.

However, Crusaders’ decision to withdraw from Super League prompted Wakefield’s 11th hour reprieve from demotion and now this evocative fixture stands to live another day.

Whatever the English competition’s drawbacks, that can only be a good thing.

Castleford’s Dean Widders, the chunky Australian utility who returns home at the end of the year, proved the hero with a well-finished try as late as the 78th minute to settle a markedly unpredictable contest.

Having made an instant impact marauding down their left, the robust replacement also produced a fine tackle on his own line with just 10 seconds remaining as despairing Trinity battled hard to salvage something from a game to which they had invested plenty.

Castleford – recording their first Super League win since July 16 – may now need to win one of their final two games to secure a play-off berth but, for so long, it had looked like they may take nothing here.

“We had enough chances to put them away but we just didn’t get it right,” admitted a relieved coach Terry Matterson, after seeing Richard Owen’s 73rd-minute effort ruled out for a forward pass from Richard Mathers, the centre who earlier had also lost the ball over the line following a desperate late lunge from Ryan Tongia.

“There were times when we thought ‘jeez are we going to win at this place’ but we found a way to win, which is great.

“We’re not there (play-offs) yet. Our points for and against could hurt us yet and if we play like that in the semi-finals then we’re just going to make up the numbers.”

That is undeniable. Trinity, who remain bottom of the table, burst into a 12-0 lead inside the opening four minutes courtesy of converted tries from the outstanding captain Glenn Morrison and similarly impressive Paul Johnson with erratic Castleford looking anything but a top-eight side.

However, they showed true resilience to overcome both that profligacy with the ball and some costly indiscipline.

Nick Youngquest was sin-binned in the 64th minute for a professional foul, allowing Trinity to score a Chris Dean try and, five minutes later, Dale Morton added a penalty to forge a 30-28 advantage they looked like holding onto until Widders’s dramatic late intervention.

Typically, the effervescent Rangi Chase had brought Castleford out of their initial slumber.

Returning after his court appearance in Australia, he produced his usual sublime skills to cleverly create space for Willie Isa’s two tries down the confused Trinity right side after Mathers had got their opener in the 18th minute.

Danny Orr added his second goal to make it 16-12 and the visitors seemed set to take command of the match.

However, weak line defence allowed Matthew Wildie to burrow over and, though on-loan Wigan prop Ben Davies responded, Castleford self-imploded straight from the re-start when Ryan McGoldrick’s foolish pass was intercepted by Semi Tadulala who sauntered in for his first try since returning from rugby union.

Morton kicked his fourth conversion to leave Trinity 24-22 ahead at half-time and McGoldrick’s misery then continued when he was put on report five minutes after the break for an ugly tackle on Kevin Henderson, recklessly forcing his opponent’s head into the ground with an old wrestling-style move.

That saw the encounter turn feisty, although Tadulala was perhaps unlucky to be penalised for a high tackle on Owen, especially as the Castleford winger’s foot was in touch before contact.

That was missed, leaving Trinity seething when, moments later, Youngquest collected Chase’s long ball to slide over in the opposite corner.

Orr improved the 55th minute try and Youngquest should have added a swift second but Isa’s pass was again forward.

That looked like it may prove crucial as John Kear’s side battled back to nudge ahead and, when Mathers messed up yet another opportunity, it seemed Castleford’s play-off hopes were fading fast.

Morrison then produced an amazing cover tackle on Owen as he cut infield but Chase picked out Widders who sold a dummy to finally cruise over from 20m.

It was a perfect end to a difficult time for the 31-year-old who had seen his house burgled the previous week and had missed out on selection for the Challenge Cup semi-final loss against Leeds.

“He has been great and we’re really pleased for him,” said Matterson.

“Everyone likes Dean and he is what he is – an impact player.

“Because of our injury situation we’ve had to leave him out for longer than what was ideal but he played the last 30 minutes for us and he made a difference.”

Wakefield: Tongia; Morton, Dean, Henderson, Tadulala; Smith, Lee; Amor, Rinaldi, Higgins, Johnson, Morrison, Howarth. Substitutes: Wildie, Tony, Gledhill, Hickey.

Castleford: McGoldrick; Owen, Mathers, Isa, Youngquest; Chase, Orr; Parker, Milner, Massey, Jones, Aspinwall, Hudson. Substitites: Thompson, Holmes, Widders, Davies.

Referee: R Silverwood (Mirfield).