Warrington 22-30 Castleford: Tigers stun Wolves in thriller
By PA Sport
Last Updated: 25/02/17 7:18am
Castleford scrum-half Luke Gale was in inspiring form as the Tigers maintained their unbeaten start to the Betfred Super League season with a thrilling 30-22 victory over Warrington at the Halliwell Jones Stadium on Friday.
Gale claimed one try, had a hand in two others and landed three goals as the Tigers showed why many are tipping them to be real Super League challengers in 2017 with this success over last year's beaten Grand Finalists.
Former Man of Steel Zak Hardaker also caught the eye with a try and a spectacular 70-metre break from deep inside his own half to set up Gale's try during an eight-minute purple patch in the first half which saw the Tigers cross for four tries.
Jesse Sene-Lefao and Greg Eden also touched down in a stunning spell of attacking rugby by Daryl Powell's side and the win was secured with a fine second-half try from winger Greg Minikin and Eden's second of the game five minutes from time.
Winger Tom Lineham and second row forward Andre Savelio both claimed two tries for the Wolves, who are still looking for their first league win of the season with Declan Patton kicking two goals and Harvey Livett adding another.
The hosts made just one change from the starting line-up that defeated Brisbane with Jack Johnson coming in at full back for Kurt Gidley, who was a late withdrawal through illness, while Dom Crosby replaced Joe Philbin on the bench.
The Wolves were quickest out of the blocks and an early onslaught on the Tigers line saw Ryan Atkins have a try disallowed for a forward pass and hooker Daryl Clark held up over the line against his former club.
But the home side got their early rewards after just six minutes when Kevin Brown's crossfield kick was palmed back by Rhys Evans and second row forward Savelio did well to scoop up the loose ball to dive over before Patton added the conversion.
Warrington continued to have the upper hand but the game changed dramatically midway through the first half as Cas hit their hosts with four tries in a devastating eight-minute spell.
The Wolves were an inch away from increasing their lead when Joe Westerman just failed to touch down a Patton kick but Castleford immediately went down the other end of the field and Gale sent Sene-Lefao on a rampaging 20-metre run to the line for their opening try.
Two minutes later, another impressive forward charge - this time from Mike McMeeken - saw the second rower go on a 40-metre midfield run before sending the supporting Hardaker racing clear to score.
Gale added both conversions to turn the game on its head as the Tigers led 12-6.
And it got even better for Powell's men when quick hands by Gale and Hardaker got Eden over in the corner for Castleford's third quickfire try.
A shell-shocked Wolves conceded again straight from the restart when Hardaker brushed through some poor defensive efforts and sprinted 70 metres before sending Gale clear to score - and the scrum-half kicked his third goal of the half to make it 22-6.
The Wolves managed to stem the tide and gave themselves a lifeline three minutes from the break when Lineham managed to power over from close range and reduce the deficit to 12 points at half-time.
That deficit was cut to six points midway through the second half when Brown's long pass saw Lineham claim his second try of the night with a spectacular dive in the corner and Patton landed a superb touchline conversion.
But the Tigers hit back almost immediately when a mazy run by Rangi Chase saw the visitors keep the ball alive and winger Minikin beat four men as he crossed in the corner to make it 26-16.
The Wolves were fighting hard though and set up an exciting finale when Savelio claimed his second try which Livett converted to cut the lead back to six points at 26-20.
But Cas held their nerve and Eden sealed the victory with his second try of the night five minutes from time.
