WiganlTries:l

Denis Betts

Andy Farrell 3

CastlefordlTries:l

Danny Orr 3

Wigan 6 Castleford 12

13,374

Referee:l

Stuart Cummings (Widnes)

Television:l

Live Coverage on Sky Sports 1

Note:l

This was Wigan's First Match played at JJB Stadium.

Match Report

Castleford stayed on course for the first championship in their 73-year history and left Wigan to contemplate a first trophy-less season for 15 years after pulling off a surprise win at the new JJB Stadium. The Tigers, who went into the tie as 16-1 outsiders to win next month's Old Trafford Grand Final, completed their third victory of the season over Wigan to clinch a place in the Super League's elimination semi-final at Leeds next Friday.

Reigning champions Wigan, who last failed to pick up silverware in 1983-84, were denied by a wonderful defensive display from the Yorkshiremen - and the width of a post! As the Warriors pressed for victory during a terrific second-half onslaught on the Castleford line, full-back Kris Radlinski looked to have won the race to Gavin Clinch's grubber kick only to collide with the upright and fail to ground the ball.

The Tigers made the most of the let-off amid a tense atmosphere to send their 3,000 travelling fans wild with delight. Castleford, the only side to complete the League double over Wigan in 1999, tackled their way to a famous victory but they also had the more astute kicking game, perfectly illustrated when the skilful Danny Orr created two first-half tries. Centre Michael Eagar grabbed the first after Jason Robinson, attempting to palm the ball "dead" following Orr's high kick, succeeded only in popping it up in the air.

And skipper Adrian Vowles then pounced on the stand-off's slide-rule kick and beat Danny Moore to the touch after the ball had taken a wicked deflection off Kris Radlinski. With Orr kicking two goals, the Tigers enjoyed a deserved 12-6 half-time lead as the Wigan script began to go awry.

The Warriors had made a dream start, when Denis Betts - who had scored the 111th try of his career in the final match at Central Park - raced in for the first points at the Warriors' new home. That followed a splendid break by centre Paul Johnson and carried on by Gavin Clinch, but Castleford had already served notice of their intentions when Brad Davis set up an early chance for second rower Lee Harland.

Radlinski saved the day for his side on that occasion and was called on to make a series of last-ditch tackles as the Yorkshiremen opted to use the full width of the pristine pitch. A couple of penalties from Andy Farrell early in the second half kept Wigan within striking distance and Betts would surely have scored a decisive try had he taken Farrell's past with the line breached. Orr then gave his side breathing space with a timely penalty after Betts had been penalised for a "flop" on Jason Flowers but Wigan still had a chance to win it when Radlinski was thwarted by the woodwork.

Wigan:- Radlinski, Robinson, Gilmour, Johnson, Moore, Clinch, T Smith, Cowie, M Smith, O'Connor, Cassidy, Betts, Farrell.
Subs:- Goldspink, Chester, Mestrov, Haughton.
Scorers:-
Tries: Betts
Goals: Farrell 3

Castleford:-Flowers, Gay, Maloney, Eager, Rogers, Orr, Davis, Sampson, Raper, Sykes, Fritz, Harland, Vowles.
Subs:- Tonks, Pickering, Hepi, Wells.
Scorers:-
Tries:Eagar, Vowles.
Goals:Orr 3

Pitch: Good
Weather: Warm and overcast
Wigan Man of the Match: Kris Radlinski