Tigers tamed by Wigan
Wigan again moved four points clear at the top of the Super League table after a 38-22 home victory over Castleford.
Last Updated: 06/06/10 7:33pm
Wigan again moved four points clear at the top of the Engage Super league table after a 38-22 victory over Castleford at the DW Stadium.
The Warriors had not played in front of their own fans since they were shocked at home by Harlequins in April and made up for that result with a hard-fought win.
The Tigers put in a determined display but never looked like realistic winners as they were outscored seven tries to four.
But it was the visitors who opened the scoring when Paul Jackson received a well-timed flat pass from Ryan Hudson before powering to the try-line.
Joe Westerman added the conversion but Wigan hit back in the ninth minute when Darrell Goulding finished after the ball had been quickly shipped out to the right.
Lead
The hosts then took the lead when half-back Sam Tomkins' pass allowed Thomas Leuluai in for Wigan's second try.
After Leuluai had scorched through and touched down, Pat Richards added his second conversion to extend the advantage.
A Mitchell Sargent lapse then allowed Chris Tuson, who this week returned from a loan spell from Castleford, to charge over in the 26th minute.
The contest seemed to be slipping away from the visitors but some hard work just before the interval saw the Tigers hit back with a second converted score.
Ryan McGoldrick ended an enterprising run with a neat inside pass and after a struggle on the try-line, Stuart Jones crossed the whitewash.
And Castleford brought the scores level four minutes into the second half as Kirk Dixon went over for a try in the corner and Westerman nailed the conversion.
Authority
Wigan then reasserted their authority when Goulding scampered home after some good work by Richards.
The pair combined again 10 minutes later as Goulding strolled in for his hat-trick after a Richards pass had played him in.
The game was effectively killed off in the 62nd minute when Leuluai scythed through the Cas defence and the supporting Sean O'Loughlin was best placed to take it on under the sticks.
Richards was successful with two of the three conversions, while Jones was sin-binned for the visitors and O'Loughlin claimed another try in the last 10 minutes as Wigan pulled well clear.
There was still time for Castleford to score a consolation as Craig Huby fought off three defenders to score, but the points had already gone the way of the league leaders.