Forwards were the mainstays of a bruising encounter in awful conditions
Betfred Super League |
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Wigan (0) 6 |
Tries: Powell Goals: Hardaker |
Castleford (4) 4 |
Goals: Mata'utia 2 |
Reigning champions Wigan edged a battle of attrition in cold, wet and windy conditions against Castleford to pick up only their fifth win of 2019.
On a day of few clear-cut chances, in which defences stood up to the test, Warriors scored the game's only try.
Having trailed to two Peter Mata'utia penalties, Sam Powell forced his way over the line for the crucial score, converted by Cas old boy Zak Hardaker.
It proved enough to settle a grinding contest despite Castleford's efforts.
Both sides were down on numbers following the gruelling Easter period and their patched-up squads sought to deliver in tricky circumstances.
Castleford won a 66-point humdinger at the Jungle at the beginning of the month, in which the Warriors raced into a 20-point lead inside the first quarter, but this was anything but a points-fest.
Hardaker had a try chalked off for Wigan after he was ruled offside against his old club, and it was just two penalties from Mata'utia that challenged the scoreboard operator in a dogged first 40.
The Tigers did not struggle for field position at times in the opening half but Wigan's line did not buckle and, in the second half, the hosts eventually broke the deadlock.
Powell took advantage of a quick play-the-ball too close to the line, and the Wigan hooker sniped in for the key try.
With time running out Castleford threw everything at Wigan but they slip to a fourth straight away defeat, while for Adrian Lam there is relief that his side secured back-to-back wins and success in a tight game.
Wigan head coach Adrian Lam:
"I woke up really happy with the way we were going to play, but the conditions sort of flattened that out completely and levelled the game. The confidence I had got zapped, but if I'd been told we'd win 6-4 then I'd have taken it.
"We need to do whatever it takes to win. We could have managed the game better at the end but we didn't. I felt confident in our defence. It's the best we've been all year. Probably back to where they were last year when they were successful. We've certainly turned the corner on the back of their hunger.
"When they sit in the dressing room and look around and see Sam Powell and Sean O'Loughlin putting the jersey on it certainly gives them confidence. Had Lockers and Powell not been there you don't know what may have happened. But we got our subs right and coached it better.
Castleford head coach Daryl Powell:
"We were the better team. We couldn't quite take our opportunities. We got Peter Mata'utia through and the ball gets dislodged. That chance was good at the end if he could get the ball to James Clare.
"We were really unlucky. I was really proud of the effort and we defended outstandingly well. Our attitude was great. We've got a bit of something to work with when you know the boys are working that hard.
"The ruck was a lot better. The ref handled it well. I reckon there were five or six there which would have been played into the back of someone on the floor. The game benefited because of it so I was pleased with it. The game was a lot cleaner."
Wigan: Hardaker; Marshall, Hankinson, Gildart, Burgess; Williams, Shorrocks; Flower, Leuluai, Bullock, Isa, Greenwood, Partington
Interchanges: O'Loughlin, Smithies, Powell, Tautai
Castleford: Mata'utia; Clare, Minikin, Egodo, Eden; Trueman, Aston; Watts, McShane, Maher, Clarkson, McMeeken, Massey
Interchanges: Milner, Clark, Peachey, Smith.
Referee: Chris Kendall.
