Wigan (16) 38
Tries: Goulding 3, Leuluai, Tuson, O'Loughlin 2 Goals: Richards 5

Castleford (12) 22
Tries: Jackson, Jones, Ferres, Huby Goals: Westerman 3

Goulding's third try effectively killed off the Castleford challenge

Wigan Warriors opened up a four-point gap at the top of the Super League with a powerful second-half performance against Castleford.

Tigers started well with tries by Paul Jackson and Stuart Jones and drew level after the break through Brett Ferres.

Darrell Goulding, Thomas Leuluai and Chris Tuson crossed for Wigan before the interval.

Goulding and Sean O'Loughlin both scored twice for Wigan and Craig Huby's late try was merely a consolation.

Castleford took to the pitch in defiant mood with Jackson's score, which was converted by Joe Westerman, coming from a flat pass from Ryan Hudson on five minutes.

Ryan McGoldrick gave away a penalty with nine minutes gone and quick hands from Wigan saw Goulding cross in the right corner for his first of the afternoon.

Sam Tomkins put Leuluai away on 19 minutes, after a gap opened in midfield, to give the hosts the lead.

Richards provided the extras for both Wigan's tries.

Tuson, fresh from his loan at Tigers, then pounced on Mitchell Sergent's spill close to his line to drive over but Richard's kick went wide.

McGoldrick was the architect of Castleford's second after his run and deft inside pass found Jones who crashed through several bodies to score. Westerman was again on song with the extras.

The visitors started the second half as they had the first and drew level just four minutes after the break when Ferres ground the ball in the corner before Westerman sent it through the uprights.

But Wigan launched into a devastating 12-minute spell that saw them run in three tries, as Goulding linked well with Richards twice to cross the whitewash.

Leuluai's searing pace proved too much for the Castleford defence and O'Loughlin was on the end of his break to ground the ball under the posts.

The visitors looked weary and, after conceding a series of penalties at the tackle, Jones was singled out for the sin bin.

As the space opened up Wigan could have added more points if Sam Tomkins could have found support runners who were clear to score on two occasions.

But the half-back made up for his poor judgement with some great link-up play with O'Loughlin for his second score.

Despite Castleford's fading challenge they held off the Warriors and Huby even fought off three tacklers to claim a late consolation.

Wigan boss Michael Maguire:

"When they're riding with you you've always got a little bit of concern and we weren't at our best so we had to work hard and continually do the things we do in practice.

"That's the thing that probably got us through, we went back to basic plays and style.

"We managed to get ourselves into a bit of a tough situation there but we came out the other end."

Castleford head coach Terry Matterson:

"They wore us down and they're a good side but I feel when we get the ascendancy we don't make it count on the scoreboard - Wigan did.

"They're very good at that and then we went down to 12 men and that made it difficult.

"We troubled them in some areas but we just couldn't do it for 80 minutes."

Wigan: Richards, Goulding, Gleeson, Carmont, Pryce, S. Tomkins, Leuluai, Fielden, McIlorum, Prescott, Bailey, J. Tomkins, S. O'Loughlin.
Replacements: Riddell, Paleaaesina, Farrell, Tuson.

Castleford: McGoldrick, Dixon, Shenton, Ferres, Wainwright, Widders, Wood, Higgins, Hudson, Jackson, Huby, Clayton, Westerman.
Replacements: Sargent, Jones, Thompson, Walker.

Referee: T Alibert (Toulouse)

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