Last gasp defeat all but ends Wolves’ play off hopes

A last gasp drop goal condemned WarringtonWolves to a 17-16 defeat at Castleford Tigers – all but ending their end of season play-off hopes.

Trailing 16-6 with 10 minutes left on the clock two late tries from Richie Myler and Kevin Penny levelled the scores giving Warrington hope of snatching a dramatic victory against the odds but it was not to be, as Liam Finn kept his cool to slot over a drop-goal for the hosts in the 78th minute.

A disappointed Head of Coaching Tony Smith said after the game: “We were not creative enough and had no one else to blame but ourselves.”

“I think Castleford deserved to win. We were poor in the second half but pretty good in the first but didn’t get the points. They played a really basic game with lots of enthusiasm and sometimes that gets you over the line.”

Warrington started the game well but couldn’t convert pressure into points.

An inspirational 40-20 from Chris Sandow in the 10th minute which resulted in three repeat sets couldn’t find a way through the Castleford defence and it came as no surprise that after soaking up all the pressure Justin Carney strolled over in the corner for the opening try for the Tigers. Luke Gale slotted over a fine conversion from out wide to make it 6-0.

The Wolves were unlucky on 24 minutes when a Sandow bomb resulted in Kevin Penny going over out wide – but it was chalked off by the video referee who ruled Ryan Atkins had knocked on in the build up.

Three minutes later the Tigers had extended their lead as Stefan Ratchford knocked on a high kick and from the resulting set Michael Shneton darted over. Gale was wide this time making it 10-0.

It was obviously not going to be Warrington’s night as three minutes later Rhys Evans had a try ruled out for a forward pass.

Warrington eventually got on the score sheet when Ashton Sims opened up the defence to send Myler over by the posts, with Sandow adding the extras to make it 10-6. But just before the hooter Castleford nudged further ahead when Gale banged over a penalty after Chris Hill was penalised for holding down making it 12-6 at the break.

On 43 minutes Warrington went further behind when Bennie Westwood was penalised and from the resulting possession Justin Carney forced his way over in the corner. Gale’s conversion hit the upright but at 16-6 the Tigers looked in control.

But then in an exciting last 10 minutes Myler gave the Wolves some hope as he intercepted to race 90 yards to score. Sandow’s conversion attempt hit the upright leaving a six point gap at 16-10.

On 72 minutes Gale attempted a drop-goal which was just wide and then with five minutes left on the clock quick passing from Sandow and Ratchford sent Penny over in the corner. Sandow kept his cool to land a conversion from out wide to level the scores.

But it was Castleford who snatched the victory in the 78th minute when Liam Finn slotted over a drop goal, effectively ending Warrington’s chances of making the  top four play-offs, six points off 4th spot, with just five games remaining.

TIGERS: Ben Roberts; Ashley Gibson, Jake Webster, Michael Shenton, Justin Carney; Liam Finn, Luke Gale; Andy Lynch, Adam Milner, Grant Millington, Oliver Holmes, Mike McMeeken, Nathan Massey. Subs: Luke Dorn, Matt Cook, Junior Moors, Gadwin Springer.

WOLVES: Stefan Ratchford; Kevin Penny, Rhys Evans, Ryan Atkins, Joel Monaghan; Chris Sandow, Richie Myler, Chris Hill, Daryl Clark, Ashton Sims, Ben Westwood, Ben Currie, Ben Harrison. Subs: Roy Asotasi, Gary Wheeler, Brad Dwyer, George King.