Castleford Tigers 52-26 Warrington Wolves

By Chris Lord
July 6 2006

5 defeats in a row for Warrington, as Castleford run riot at the Jungle. Is Paul Cullen set for the exit door at The Halliwell Jones Stadium???

 

Castleford Tigers 52-26 Warrington Wolves

Wheldon Road, Castleford
Sunday 2nd July 2006
Attendance: TBC

 

Castleford eased their relegation fears with a thumping victory that condemned Warrington to a fifth straight defeat.

The Tigers scored three tries in the opening 12 minutes via Waine Pryce, Willie Manu and Danny Brough.

Rob Parker, Brent Grose and Stuart Reardon crossed for Wolves but further scores from Richard Fa'aoso and Peter Lupton put Cas 28-14 up at half-time.

The hosts scored three more tries before the game erupted, Paul Wood and Ryan McGoldrick sent off for punching.

Their dismissals with 13 minutes left came hot on the heels of three sin-binnings.

Tigers replacement Paul Handforth was quickly followed off the pitch by Gray Viane and Ben Westwood, who had taken part in the first bout of fisticuffs.

Lupton's try 12 minutes into the second half had already put the issue beyond doubt, with scores from Michael Platt, Adam Fletcher and Michael Shenton heaping further misery on the Wolves.

Platt's score and the outstanding Brough's sixth conversion surpassed Cas' previous biggest score (38) of the season.

Michael Sullivan and Michael Cooper added late tries for Warrington, but they provided little consolation.

Victory lifted the Tigers out of immediate danger in the lower half of the table, five points clear of bottom side Wigan.

Cas are now only three points behind Warrington, who are clinging onto the sixth and final play-off spot after a fourth straight league defeat. Warrington will have to regroup in the week and look forward to the home clash with play-off contenders Huddersfield Giants next Sunday.