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Wigan 26-14 Castleford

Who's on for play-off glory? Have your say

Wigan withstood a tremendous fightback from Castleford Tigers to win a gripping Super League play-off at the JJB Stadium.

A late try for Australian veteran David Furner put the seal on the victory in front of passionate home support.

I'm really proud of the guys but there were certain aspects I was disappointed with

Wigan coach
Stuart Raper

And the Warriors will now meet Leeds on home turf for the right to play either St Helens or Bradford in the next round.

The Challenge Cup holders, beaten finalists in each of the last two Super League finals, were ultimately good value for their win.

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Castleford have not beaten Wigan since their famous play-off triumph of 1999, but they threatened to turn the clock back throughout an entertaining tie.

They took a fourth-minute lead with a try from winger Waine Pryce.

But Wigan scrum-half Adrian Lam and David Hodgson helped carve open a 12-4 lead with explosive scores soon afterwards.

Skipper Andy Farrell was on the mark with both conversions.

Castleford, who lost scrum-half Mitch Healey with a back injury, had their moments early in the second half, but the best chances continued to fall to their opponents.

Jon Wells
Wells in action for the Tigers
It was from a jinking run by Lam that the Warriors extended their lead on 50 minutes, although the move was smothered in good fortune.

Lam's pass just short of the line failed to find the Kris Radlinski, but the ball rebounded off a defender and trickled over the line for second rower Danny Tickle to touch down.

The visitors enjoyed no such luck when their moment came.

Darren Rogers looked to have scored a crucial try in the 67th minute, but video referee Steve Cross adjudged that the full-back di not have full control of the ball and ruled the effort out.

Furner then compiled the Tigers' misery by going over for the clinching try.

Wigan: Radlinski, Aspinwall, Connolly, Hodgson, Briscoe, O'Neill, Lam, Howard, Newton, C. Smith, Tickle, Furner, Farrell.
Replacements: M. Smith, Sculthorpe, Bibey, Wild.

Castleford: Rogers, Wells, Johnson, Eagar, Pryce, Orr, Lennon, Warren, Hudson, Lynch, Fritz, Smith, Bartrim.
Replacements: Mather, Sykes, Harland, Saxton.

Referee: Steve Ganson (St Helens)


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