Wigan coach Michael Maguire was pleased with an "ugly win" over Castleford as his side moved to the top of the Super League.
Warriors boss relieved as his side overcome battling Tigers
Wigan coach Michael Maguire was pleased with an "ugly win" over Castleford as his side moved to the top of the Super League.
Winger Josh Charnley scored two tries to help the defending champions to a 26-16 victory over the Tigers on Wednesday night - with the result lifting the Warriors above Warrington.
And with lowly Harlequins and Wakefield to play over the next eight days, Maguire's men have the perfect opportunity to consolidate their position at the top before they take on the Wolves in the last match of the regular season.
However Maguire was relieved to get the points after a patched-up Castleford threatened to pull off a shock win.
Tries from Stuart Jones, Richard Owen and John Davies gave the Tigers a 16-10 half-time lead and, even after conceding three tries in a devastating nine-minute spell early in the second half, they never gave up and were unfortunate to have a Brett Ferres try disallowed on the hour.
"Sometimes those decisions go your way and sometimes they don't," said Maguire. "We've probably been a bit lucky at times and sometimes we haven't so you take them when you get them.
"It was an ugly win for us but credit to Cas. They performed really well and made it a real challenge for us.
"We probably made a meal of that first half, compared to how we have been playing.
"But the boys had a good chat at half-time and spoke about what they needed to do and they came out in the second half and did it and we were lucky to get the points."
