Wigan record 26-12 comeback victory over Castleford in Super League
By PA Sport
Last Updated: 15/04/16 11:08pm
Wigan bounced back from their shock 62-0 hammering at Wakefield with a hard-fought 26-12 victory over Castleford at the DW Stadium on Friday.
The Warriors suffered their heaviest defeat in over a decade in going down at Belle Vue last Sunday, but two tries from John Bateman and one apiece for Lewis Tierney and Nick Gregson helped them get back to winning ways.
Matty Smith converted all four tries and added a penalty to boot, with Castleford's scores from Denny Solomona and Grant Millington proving mere consolation.
Castleford started the strongest and a mistake from Gregson deep in his own half saw the Tigers take advantage of the free play, as Luke Gale put a kick in for Solomona to touch down.
The Warriors were soon back on level terms when Tierney collected a ball from Lee Mossop before latching onto his own kick and scoring a try by the side of the posts.
Before Smith added the extras to make it 6-6, referee Phil Bentham sent Gale to the sin-bin for arguing that Mossop's ball to Tierney had gone forward.
The Warriors ended the half the strongest with Joel Tomkins, Smith and Tierney going close, and they took an 8-6 lead with Smith kicking a penalty on the hooter.
Castleford went back in front in the 46th minute when Millington went over after sharp work from Joel Monaghan and Greg Minikin on the right following Gale's high bomb.
An error from Gale and successive penalties put the Warriors in a good attacking position and this time, they made it count.
It looked like Joel Tomkins was going down a dead end before he offloaded to Bateman, who then stepped and showed a great turn of pace to score under the posts.
Wigan put the game out of Castleford's reach in the final 10 minutes with youngster Gregson throwing a dummy on the left to grab his first try for the club, Smith maintaining his 100 per cent record with the boot by adding the extras to take the Warriors 20-12 ahead.
A short kick-off saw Castleford regain possession and pile the pressure on the Warriors line, but the home side held firm with Matt Cook and Paul McShane both held inches short.
The Tigers refused to lie down and fought hard until the final whistle but Wigan deserved the victory in the end and they made the scoreline more flattering with Bateman touching down in the dying seconds, with Smith converting.
