ANOTHER hat-trick of tries from Matt King saw Warrington Wolves blow away Castleford Tigers with a convincing 18-48 victory at the Jungle which saw them stay top of the table.
In his first game since announcing departure at the end of the season, King grabbed a 15-minute hat-trick.
The victory was achieved without Skipper Adrian Morley and play maker Lee Briers, who were both rested by Head Coach Tony Smith.
The game was over as a contest by the interval as the free-scoring Wolves built up a 0-24 lead.
The Tigers must have been fearing a repeat of their 62-0 drubbing at the Halliwell Jones Stadium in May as the Wolves went thirty points clear.
But a spirited fightback saw the Tigers claw back 18 points before Warrington pulled clear again.
Warrington’s other tries came from Brett Hodgson (2) Richie Myler, Matty Blythe, Joel Monaghan and Ryan Atkins, with Hodgson landing six conversions.
Although Warrington’s win ensured they remain top of the table, arch rivals Wigan, who narrowly beat leads 26-24 at the DW Stadium, play the Tigers at home on Wednesday evening and a victory would send them top by one point.
TEAMS:
Castleford: Mathers; Eden, Arundel, Ferres, Owen; Chase, McGoldrick; Fozzard, Orr, Emmitt, Jones, Snitch, Hudson.
Replacements: Jackson, Milner, Massey, Holmes.
Warrington: Hodgson; J Monaghan, Blythe, Atkins, King; Bridge, Myler; Wood, M Monaghan, Carvell, Grix, Westwood, Harrison.
Replacements: Higham, Clarke, Cooper, Solomona.
Referee: James Child (Dewsbury).
