Pictures Eddie Whitham
DESPITE a second half fight back Warrington Wolves went down 28-18 at Castleford Tigers who leap frogged them in the Super 8s league table to go third.
Trailing 16-0 at the break at the Mend-A-Hose Jungle following tries from James Clare, Junior Moors and Greg Eden the Wolves hit back through Stefan Ratchford and Bryson Goodwin following a great start to the second half.
But Eden crossed for a second try and Mike McMeeken powered over before Ratchford went over for a late consolation.
The defeat may have come at a cost ahead of next Saturday’s Challenge Cup Final against Catalan Dragons as Mitch Brown left the field on a stretcher in the first half, while Ben Pomeroy ended the game carrying an injury.
The hosts looked set to be in for a comfortable evening against a side with one eye on Wembley when Eden ran in from 40 yards after intercepting a pass just before the break.
But two tries in four second-half minutes gave the Warrington some hope of a comeback but they ran out of steam and are now just four points ahead of fifth-placed Huddersfield Giants in the Super 8s.
The second half started well when Ratchford scored after collecting a kick under the sticks from a Kevin Brown on 47 minutes with Ratchford adding the extras. Brown then provided the pass for Goodwin to go over from close range on 50 minutes with Ratchford again on target to make it 16-12.
But then two quick fire tries from the hosts condemned the Wolves to defeat, with Ratchford’s consolation coming in the final minute, with Brown agan the provider. Dec Patton added the extras.
TEAMS
Castleford: Mata’utia, Clare, Webster, Shenton, Eden, Ellis, Trueman, Watts, McShane, Millington, Wardle, McMeeken, Massey.
Replacements: Moors, Holmes, Clark, Turner.
Warrington: Ratchford, Lineham, T. King, Goodwin, M. Brown, K. Brown, Roberts, Hill, Clark, Cooper, Thompson, Hughes, G. King.
Replacements: Patton, Akauola, Philbin, Pomeroy.
Castleford (16) 28
Tries: Clare, Moors, Eden 2, McMeeken Goals: Ellis 4
Warrington (0) 18
Tries: Ratchford 2, Bryson Goals: Ratchford 2, Patton
🗣️ “We did well to get back into the game and showed some good glimpses but they were the better team tonight.”
Steve Price gives his verdict on tonight’s defeat to Castleford and offers an injury update ➡️ https://t.co/8YEgykBPbY pic.twitter.com/MwzpPuhLlD
— Warrington Wolves (@wolvesrl) August 17, 2018
