Match Report: Wigan 40 Castleford 16
Posted by cherryandwhite on July 27 2012 - 22:21
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Friday 27th July 2012
Wigan Warriors 40 Castleford Tigers 16
DW Stadium, Wigan
Stobart Super League 17 - Round 22 of 27
Kick Off 8:00pm

- Wigan       - Castleford    
1 Sam Tomkins  T2   G4    1 Richard Owen    
2 Josh Charnley  T      32 Rhys Williams  T   
3 Darrell Goulding       25 Jordan Thompson    
4 George Carmont  T      14 Stuart Jones  T   
37 Iain Thornley  T      2 Nick Youngquest    G2 
6 Brett Finch       21 Oliver Holmes  T   
38 Matty Smith       7 Danny Orr    
21 Epalahame Lauaki  T2      19 Paul Jackson    
9 Michael McIlorum       15 Adam Milner    
10 Lee Mossop       10 Craig Huby    
11 Harrison Hansen       13 Steve Snitch    
12 Gareth Hock       20 Grant Millington    
23 Ben Flower       8 Jake Emmitt    
Interchange:
14 Jeff Lima       16 Ryan Hudson    
16 Liam Farrell  T      17 Lee Mitchell    
17 Chris Tuson       22 Nathan Massey    
33 Dom Crosby       25 Steve Nash    

Report: 

As practically the whole nation was transfixed on the Opening Ceremony of the London Olympics taking place at the same time, Wigan were seeing off Castleford at the DW Stadium.

The reality was Wigan took just 11 minutes to win this match. They scored three tries in that spell to build a 16-0 lead and it always looked like they were playing well within themselves for the rest of the contest.

However, credit Castleford. They muscled up in the pack after that moment and did well to halt Wigan for long periods. Who knows, if Wigan had not scored after the hooter just before half time, this could of been a different story.

But Wigan got off to a great start with two tries from, well would you adam and eve it, Eric Lauaki!!! Not one but two. Identical efforts as well. Cas get caught offside twice by referee George Stokes and Lauaki soon barrels over from close range near the posts. Easy conversions then for a 12-0 lead in 7 minutes.

Then a third try soon followed with Iain Thornley claiming his fourth try in his third Wigan appearance by going over in the left corner. Sam couldn't convert - 16-0.

Looked like Cas might roll over and die at this point, but instead they got some possession and grew in confidence. It was a long time in coming but they deserved the next try of the game they claimed in the 37 minute.

Before that however we had a long injury delay when Darrell Goulding was panned out by Nick Youngquest's knee. It was total accident but Goulding's teeth took the brunt of the knee and he was immediately out cold. Thankfully he's come round and is ok but that was obviously the game over for him. Ginger Farrell came in to play centre in his place.

Like I said, Cas got the games next try just before half time with Rhys Williams mugging both Josh Charnley and Sam Tomkins down the right wing. Excellent try, converted by Youngquest for 16-6.

They needed to hold that to half time though but couldn't. They made a error and Wigan once again scored right on the hooter. The play the ball was got away a bugs dick before the hooter sounded and after attacking towards the left, they then went right and got Farrell over in the corner. Sam couldn't convert but 20-6 took a bit of heat off.

Cas then put the sweat on Wigan with the first try of the second half being scored by Oliver Holmes in the 47th minute, converted for a score of 19+1 to 11+1 (can't say the actual score at this point in fear those Olympic Organisers will be suing me as I'm not an official olympic sponsor. Can I say the word "Olympic? - oh bugger!). Wigan quickly took the heat off though with an excellent try from George Carmont a few minutes later. Good power from "one knee" George and Sam's conversion made it 26-12.

That lead should of quickly been extended when Gareth Hock busted right up the middle from 60 out. The "Butcher" had support both left and right, and should of sent the ball right for an easy try under the posts, but instead he kept hold. Greedy, greedy bastard. When he passed it was far too late and the chance went.

Wigan did scored next on 64 minutes to put the result beyond down. Good one-two passing move between Sam and Thornley got the full back over. He couldn't convert however - 30-12.

The now baldy Josh Charnley claimed his 27th Super League try of the campaign on 74 minutes in the right corner, unconverted for 34-12, before Cas scored a third try three minutes later from ex Wigan player Stuart Jones.

Having seen Josh get his 27th, Sam kept the heat on him for top league try scorer by claiming his second and 24th try of the campaign in the last minute. Converted it as well for a final score of 40-16.

One final note. Matty Smith kicked brilliantly in the first half. Nice and calm and finding touch to keep Cas pinned back. That could be useful at the business end of the season.

Scoring: 
4th Minute Wigan 04 Castleford 00 Try: Epalahame Lauaki
- Wigan 06 Castleford 00 Conversion: Sam Tomkins (1/1)
7th Minute Wigan 10 Castleford 00 Try: Epalahame Lauaki (2)
- Wigan 12 Castleford 00 Conversion: Sam Tomkins (2/2)
11th Minute Wigan 16 Castleford 00 Try: Iain Thornley
- Wigan 16 Castleford 00 S.Tomkins Missed Conversion (2/3)
37th Minute Wigan 16 Castleford 04 Try: Rhys Williams
- Wigan 16 Castleford 06 Conversion: Nick Youngquest (1/1)
40th Minute Wigan 20 Castleford 06 Try: Liam Farrell
- Wigan 20 Castleford 06 S.Tomkins Missed Conversion (2/4)
Half Time Wigan Warriors 20 Castleford Tigers 06
46th Minute Wigan 20 Castleford 10 Try: Oliver Holmes
- Wigan 20 Castleford 12 Conversion: Nick Youngquest (2/2)
52nd Minute Wigan 24 Castleford 12 Try: George Carmont
- Wigan 26 Castleford 12 Conversion: Sam Tomkins (3/5)
64th Minute Wigan 30 Castleford 12 Try: Sam Tomkins
- Wigan 30 Castleford 12 S.Tomkins Missed Conversion (3/6)
74th Minute Wigan 34 Castleford 12 Try: Josh Charnley
- Wigan 34 Castleford 12 S.Tomkins Missed Conversion (3/7)
77th Minute Wigan 34 Castleford 16 Try: Stuart Jones
- Wigan 34 Castleford 16 N.Youngest Missed Conversion (2/3)
80th Minute Wigan 38 Castleford 16 Try: Sam Tomkins (2)
- Wigan 40 Castleford 12 Conversion: Sam Tomkins (4/8)
Full Time Wigan Warriors 40 Castleford Tigers 12
Referee: 

George Stokes
Attendance: 

13,975

Super League 17 - Round 22 Results
Fri 27 July Wigan Warriors 40 Castleford Tigers 16 13,975
Sat 28 July Catalan Dragons 19 London Broncos 12 7,662
Sun 29 July Hull FC 34 Salford City Reds 26 10,776
Sun 29 July Warrington Wolves 50 Bradford Bulls 22 10,750
Sun 29 July Widnes Vikings 26 Hull Kingston Rovers 32 5,325
Sun 29 July St Helens 46 Huddersfield Giants 12 12,329
Mon 30 July Wakefield Wildcats 38 Leeds Rhinos 18 9,547

Stobart Super League 17 Table - After This Round
- Team P W D L F A Diff Pts
1 Wigan Warriors 22 18 0 4 838 341 +497 36
2 Warrington Wolves 22 16 1 5 733 435 +298 33
3 St Helens 22 14 2 6 651 395 +256 30
4 Catalan Dragons 22 15 0 7 650 459 +191 30
5 Leeds Rhinos 22 13 0 9 626 516 +110 26
6 Hull FC 22 12 2 8 534 505 +29 26
7 Huddersfield Giants 22 11 0 11 567 514 +53 22
8 Hull Kingston Rovers 22 10 1 11 595 551 +44 21
9 Bradford Bulls* 22 11 1 10 497 572 -75 17
10 Salford City Reds 22 8 1 13 518 648 -130 17
11 Wakefield Wildcats 22 8 0 14 465 638 -173 16
12 Castleford Tigers 22 6 0 16 474 740 -266 12
13 Widnes Vikings 22 5 0 17 408 886 -478 10
14 London Broncos 22 3 0 19 396 752 -356 6

*Bradford Bulls Deducted 6 points for entering administration.