Strong Cas win over Wire

A hot performance from the Fords secured a solid 35-22 win over Daryl Powell's Warrington Wolves.

It was a memorable afternoon with the Tigers blowing the Wire away in the first half with four tries and a drop goal on top to display a commanding first 40 minutes. The visitors struck back in the second period, and a red card helped their efforts but Cas did more than enough to get two league points.

Head Coach Lee Radford had made four changes in the line-up to the team that played at Magic Weekend as Cheyse Blair and Alex Sutcliffe came into the pack. Paul McShane took his place leading the line at hooker and replaced Adam Milner, with Jason Qareqare on the bench.

George Griffin also registered his 50th appearance in Cas colours on the day.

It was a terrific start by the Fords through Derrell Olpherts, inside the first 10 minutes. Assisted by a brilliant Greg Eden pass out wide, Olpherts was through from 10 metres out. Danny Richardson converted the try to make the score 6-0. Olpherts would quickly double his tally in the game soon after, assisted again by Eden, dotting down after cutting inside. Danny Richardson converted the try to make the score 12-0 to Cas.

Richardson as the leading half stepped up to the plate to boss the team around the field, and grounded a much-deserved score of his own within the the first 20 minutes. DR7 got on the end of a perfectly placed grubber kick from captain Paul McShane, and the halfback made it three from three with his boot for 18-0.

Castleford's efforts in defence, as displayed against Catalans & Huddersfield in recent weeks, was resilient in the first half. The Wolves came close but the hosts remained strong.

Six minutes in the opening exchange, Richardson put the ball through the sticks for a drop goal, to push the Tigers 19-0 up and keep the momentum going.

Just before the break, Castleford added their fourth try, Richardson bursting into space and handing the ball to Niall Evalds for the full-back to race over and for the Fords to take a 23-0 lead into the sheds. That score would prove costly though, with Evalds' shoulder popping out and led to his exit from the game.

With Cas in a commanding position, the Tigers were looking to keep it going and 18-year-old Jason Qareqare came on as Evalds' replacement and made a quick impact, as we're getting accustomed to from the talented young Cas man.

Attacking the line and showing wonderful footwork he worked his way over the line for the first points of the half. Richardson made his first miss the boot for 27-0.

Warrington finally struck after 55 minutes through Ben Currie who got on the end of a good kick forward. Stefan Ratchford missed the conversion bouncing it off the left upright.

Warrington then had the momentum at this point and scored again within two minutes, with a try from Matty Ashton following up a break-upfield. The conversion from Ratchford was successful this time, for 27-10.

After suffering back-to-back tries, the Tigers compounded their issues with a red card for Cheyse Blair for a bad tackle. Cas were going to have to do it tough, in hot conditions.

A third Wire try came seven or so minutes after the Fords went down to the 12-men, Daryl Clark scooted near the line and despite three defenders trying to stop him and after a lengthy video ref check it was given. Ratchford added the kick from in front of the posts for 27-16.

A knock-on inside their own 40 put Wire on the back foot and Castleford got the try they were desperate for with a play that ended with a try from Alex Sutcliffe, who came off the bench and made a big impact. Richardson knocked over the kick for the scoreboard to read 33-16 to the hosts.

With six minutes left, former Tigers Oliver Holmes registered his first try for the Wolves by following a break and getting the pass to finish it off. Another Ratchford conversion to make it 33-22.

In the dying embers of the game, the Wolves conceded an offside penalty and Richardson duly slotted the kick to put the scores at 35-22 to the Tigers.

Castleford went looking for a late score to really make a statement but would come up short as the hooter went and Sweet Caroline echoed around The Jungle to celebrate a tough, well-deserved win, and bounce back following the disappointing result at Magic Weekend.

Castleford: Evalds, Faraimo, Blair, Fonua, Olpherts, Richardson, Eden, Lawler, McShane, Griffin, Mellor, Edwards, Westerman

Interchanges: Sutcliffe, Smith, Matagi, Qareqare

Tries: Olpherts x2, Richardson, Evalds, Qareqare, Sutcliffe
Goals: Richardson (4/6)
Drop Goals: Richardson
Penalty: Richardson
Red Card: Blair

Warrington: Ratchford, Thewlis, Mata’utia, Wardle, Ashton, Williams, Dean, Mulhern, Clark, Harrison, Currie, Nicholson, Holmes

Interchanges: Clark, Bullock, Wrench, Mikaele

Tries: Currie, Ashton, Clark, Holmes
Goals: Ratchford (3/4)

Attendance: 6,293
Golden Gamble Winning Number: 11192