Wolves keep up the heat

Warrington cut Wigan's lead at the top of the Super League table to four points with a dominant victory over Castleford.

Five first-half tries from Chris Riley, Richie Myler (two), skipper Adrian Morley and Ryan Atkins set the hosts on the way to two more points, with the Tigers able to reply with just a solitary score from Kirk Dixon.

Richie Mathers and Chris Hicks added further scores for the Wolves after the break, although the visitors did improve, crossing for tries from Joe Westerman (two), Michael Wainwright, Ryan Clayton and Steve Snitch.

But late scores from veteran forward David Solomona and Myler's third completed the rout.

Solomona's drive and trademark offload set up the opening score, Atkins putting Riley over under the posts.

Ben Westwood duly converted, and Snitch was then hauled down just short, before the visitors hit back with nine minutes gone.

Michael Monaghan was unable to keep hold of Solomona's loose pass 20 metres out and Craig Huby snapped up the loose ball. And a couple of sets later Dixon strolled over on the right courtesy of Dean Widders' long, floated pass.

The combination of Widders and Dixon almost resulted in a second score minutes later but Riley got his fingertips to the pass. This time it was Warrington's turn to quickly turn the tables as Myler scored a poacher's effort at the other end of the field.

Monaghan's grubber bobbled dangerously near the Cas line and Myler was on hand to scoop up and drive over, Westwood making it two from two with the boot.

Wolves skipper Morley was next to cross, the England forward showing the ball one way, going the other and charging between two flat-footed Tigers defenders to score.

Clever kick

Westwood goaled his third of the afternoon before Myler's clever kick five minutes later left Atkins the simple task of dotting down a converted score.

A fifth try arrived on the stroke of half-time as Monaghan went streaking through, the supporting Myler took the ball on and finished under the sticks, Westwood maintaining his 100% record with the boot.

The visitors struggled to retain possession after the interval but on a rare venture downfield in the 46th minute, Rangi Chase coasted along the defensive line before straightening up and hitting Westerman with a well-timed flat ball.

But just three minutes later, after Huby had spilled near his own line, Mathers finished off another Warrington try.

Myler, again running at defenders, made the initial break, but Mathers did well to take his clever ball against the grain and cross the line.

Hicks then added a seventh, Matt King providing the telling ball and Westwood kicking his seventh goal of the afternoon.

Wainwright finished well midway through the second half, while Clayton's effort in the 63rd minute exposed a few chinks in the Warrington armour.

Westerman made it three tries in the space of six minutes after Chase's initial break, but a comeback always looked well beyond the Tigers, especially when Solomona and Myler, completing his hat-trick, both crossed in the closing stages.

Snitch claimed a further score for Cas, while Westwood's kicking game was immaculate as he finished with nine goals from nine attempts.