Anderson breaks Cas hearts

A last-minute try from second-rower Louis Anderson secured Warrington a dramatic 34-31 victory over Castlefold at The Jungle on Monday.

Brent Sherwin looked to have claimed the points for the Tigers as he dropped a goal with just three minutes remaining to edge his side a point ahead, but Anderson popped up in the dying seconds to pinch a win that keeps the Wolves hot on the heels on leaders Leeds Rhinos.

Defeat was particularly cruel on Castleford's teenage loose forward Joe Westerman who scored a hat-trick of tries and kicked five goals.

However, his efforts were in vain as Ben Westwood, Stuart Reardon, Martin and Mark Gleeson, Vinnie and then, crucially, Louis Anderson all touched down for Warrington.

The visitors quickly took a stranglehold on the game as they moved 12-0 ahead just past the quarter-hour mark.

First some clever play from Lee Briers sent in Westwood, before Reardon twisted his way through a couple of tackles to touch down after John Clarke and Vinnie Anderson had opened Castleford up.

Briers converted both tries to put Warrington in command, but Anderson then blotted his copybook by being sent to the sin-bin for holding down Kirk Dixon and Castleford made their numerical advantage count.

It was Westerman who dragged his side back into the contest with two quickfire tries. The youngster capitalised on a mistake from Kevin Penny, who failed to deal with Luke Dorn's hanging kick, for his first and was on hand three minutes later to claim his second after some neat play from Sherwin.

Westerman added both conversions to draw his side level, although Warrington got their noses back in front by the interval as Martin Gleeson accepted a pass from Westwood to power over with Chris Hicks kicking the extras.

The Tigers hauled themselves back on terms on 49 minutes as Ryan McGoldrick and Peter Lupton combined to send in Richard Owen with Westerman slotting his third goal.

However, Warrington reasserted themselves with two quick tries as they built up a 30-18 advantage.

Mark Gleeson, benefiting from some strong work from Australian centre Matt King, scored first and three minutes later Vinnie Anderson breached the Cas line after being put in by brother Louis.

Once again the hosts mounted a brave fightback with Lupton reducing the deficit just before the hour and Westerman completing his hat-trick after a long pass from Sherwin.

Westerman failed to convert his third try from out wide, but did level the scores at 30-30 when he kicked a penalty with Warrington having been punished for obstruction.

Sherwin looked to have clinched a memorable win with his drop-goal, but Louis Anderson stepped up at the death to steal the spoils for Warrington.