Castleford Tigers Supporters Club

Castleford slumped to a fourth successive defeat at The Jungle going down 34-18 to the Warrington Wolves, in a display that left much to be desired.

The Tigers were guilty of indiscipline, poor execution and seemingly trying to score off every set of six instead of being patient and making the plays that count in the right areas of the field.

Dean Widders returned to a reshuffled Tigers 17 which saw acting skipper Ryan McGoldrick revert to fullback, Richard Owen replace Michael Wainwright on the wing with Sione Faumuina starting at stand off. Craig Huby and Ryan Clayton started in the pack with Joe Westerman and Liam Higgins dropping back to the bench alongside Widders and Chris Feather.

For the Wolves Michael Monanghan missed out due to injury but Chris Hicks was recalled after a 3 week absence. Tony Smith was also able to select from strength, signified by the fact that front row Paul Wood, Mickey Higham and Paul Rauhihi were only able to make the bench with Adrian Morley, Jon Clarke and Gareth Carvell preferred.

Cas got off to a great start with a Kirk Dixon try with only 4 minutes on the clock. Warrington back row Ben Westwood was penalised for a high shot on Mitchell Sargent giving the Tigers good field position and after McGoldrick, Rangi Chase and Stuart Jones had all handled, Huby sent a long floated pass to the right winger where Dixon stepped inside the Warrington cover for a try which he was unable to convert.

The home side extended their lead on 19 minutes with Owen crossing near the corner after the ball had been transferred through the hands of Kirk Netherton, McGoldrick, Chase and Faumuina before Michael Shenton supplied the final pass. Again Dixon was unable to add the extras but the lead was now 8 points.

The Wolves hit back almost straight away and McGoldrick was tackled 'in goal' after a Lee Briers kick. The experience Briers then forced his way over for a try beside the posts, from a Clarke pass, which Chris Bridge converted.

Bridge was on target again when Higham and Bridge combined to send Louis Anderson in for a try after a Chase penalty had failed to find touch. This gave the visitors a 12-8 lead at the interval although Cas had a try ruled out after Brett Ferres had gone over in the corner. The video ref judging that McGoldrick's pass had been knocked forward by Westerman.

Westwood put his side under pressure, knocking on early in the 2nd half but despite Widders, Chase and Faumuina all going close the Tigers were unable to capitalise. Briers then delivered a sucker punch as he picked off a McGoldrick pass to race 30 metres for an easy score.

Bridge was off target with the conversion and also after 3 quick penalties had set up the position for Higham and Briers to send in Matt King to extend the lead  to 12 points.

A high kick be Ferres caused confusion in the Warrington defence and Faumuina found James Evans who sent Dixon in at the corner only for the video ref to again rule out the score, deeming Widders had pushed Chris Riley when challenging for the ball.  

There was no such decision though when McGoldrick found Chase who in turn offloaded to Shenton. The England international appeared to have nowhere to go but found a hole in the Warrington defence to race away from inside his own half for a classy score.

Dixon added the extras but any chance of a Tigers fightback were shattered as Vinnie Anderson went in for 2 quick tries. His first followed a Bridge grubber kick close to the line and resulted in McGoldrick being sin-binned for dissent and in his absence Bridge and Simon Grix combined to send the Kiwi forward in again althou the final pass appeared to be forward. Bridge was only able to convert one of the scores but with only 12 minutes remaining the visitors held a 12 point lead.

Again Cas tried to claw their way back and Evans crossed wide out after good work from Netherton, Chase and Faumuina had all handled. Dixon couldn't convert but as the Tigers forced the passes Ferres attempted to flick on a Chase long pass only to see Hicks intercept and race almost full length despite the desperate efforts of Owen and Shenton. Bridge was again off target but the game ended Cas 18 Warrington 34.

Next up for Cas is a daunting trip to league leaders St. Helens and they will be without Shenton and Westerman who will be away on international duty with England. Saints wil also be without a couple of stars, James Roby and James Graham but with the array of talent at the disposal of Mick Potter it will still be a tough task as Terry Matterson's men seek to end the sequence of defeats.

Tigers: McGoldrick, Dixon, Evans, Shenton, Owen, Faumuina, Chase, Sargent, Netherton, Huby, Ferres, Jones, Clayton. Subs: Westerman, Feather, Higgins, Widders.

Wolves: Mathers, Riley, Grix, King, Hicks, Bridge, Briers, Morley, Clarke, Carvell, L. Anderson, Westwood, Harrison. Subs: Higham, Wood, Rauhihi, V. Anderson

Referee: Ben Thaler                                        Attendance: 5628

Normytigers Man of the Match

1st Michael Shenton 3 points

2nd Sione Faumuina 2 points

3rd Richard Owen 1 point