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Cullen hails last-gasp Cas victory as ‘a win for spirit’
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| Wolves celebrate a try at The Jungle |
Castleford Tigers 31
Warrington Wolves 34.
IF Wolves achieve something in Super League this year, they will surely look back on Louis Anderson's last-gasp try at Castleford as one of the significant moments of the season.
Winning at promoted Cas is almost expected of Super League's big boys - even if Leeds came unstuck there earlier this month - but winning without your four recognised half backs and your first-choice full back is another thing altogether.
That was the task that faced Wolves 27 minutes into this Easter Monday clash.
Paul Cullen's men had cruised into an early 12-0 lead and looked all set to hand out the sort of mauling that had the Tigers licking their wounds two years ago, when Wolves ran out 64-6 winners in the second game of that Easter schedule.
But injuries to Stuart Reardon and Lee Briers as well as the sin-binning of Vinnie Anderson - all within the space of three minutes - changed everything.
With the primrose and blue down to 12 men and frantically reorganising, Cas stormed back to 12-12. All of a sudden Wolves were in trouble.
They had already gone into the game without the injured Chris Bridge, Simon Grix and Michael Monaghan and were now operating with a makeshift half back partnership of Vinnie Anderson and Jon Clarke, with winger Chris Hicks filling in as full back and goal kicker.
What followed was the sort of nerve-jangling game that lives long in the memory.
Castleford's 18-year-old loose forward Joe Westerman showed why he is so highly rated with a thoroughly impressive 22 points - a hat-trick of tries and five goals - but Wolves, for whom the Anderson brothers were a constant menace, were never behind until the drama of the last five minutes.
As snow fell across The Jungle, they led 30-28 when Rob Parker conceded a penalty for an off-the-ball body check and Westerman levelled the scores.
Wolves still had the field position to win it until Jon Clarke knocked on and Brent Sherwin landed a drop goal.
The game looked to have been decided but Kevin Penny, who produced a much-improved defensive display, got on the end of Hicks' short kick-off and seconds later Martin Gleeson was leaping about like a madman after his pass had allowed Louis Anderson to charge through for the winning try.
"It was a win for spirit today," declared Cullen afterwards.
Spirit is certainly something Wolves are not short of these days and, with every win, belief is growing.
And Monday's match encapsulated Wolves' first eight games perfectly.
They have not had things all their own way but, by hook or by crook, they're getting the job done.
Match facts
Castleford Tigers 31
Warrington Wolves 34
Tigers: Luke Dorn; Adam Fletcher, Kirk Dixon, Ryan McGoldrick, Richard Owen (1t); Peter Lupton (1t), Brent Sherwin (1dg); Mark Leafa, Andrew Henderson, Michael Korkidas, Craig Huby, Ryan Clayton, Joe Westerman (3t, 5g). Subs used: Ryan Boyle, Liam Higgins, Anthony Thackeray, Nathan Massey.
Wolves: Stuart Reardon (1t); Chris Hicks (3g), Martin Gleeson (1t), Matt King, Kevin Penny; Vinnie Anderson (1t), Lee Briers (2g); Adrian Morley, Jon Clarke, Paul Rauhihi, Ben Westwood (1t), Louis Anderson (1t), Paul Johnson. Subs used: Rob Parker, Andy Bracek, Mark Gleeson (1t), Steve Pickersgill.
Referee: Steve Ganson
Scoring: Briers brilliantly steps past Clayton and puts Westwood in, 6mins, Briers converts, 0-6; Reardon collects Vinnie Anderson's pass and twists over, 17mins, Briers converts, 0-12; Penny spills a bomb under pressure and Westerman gathers to score, 30mins, Westerman converts, 6-12; Sherwin puts Westerman through a gap, 33mins, Westerman converts, 12-12; Martin Gleeson scores from Westwood's clever pass, 40mins, Hicks converts, 12-18; Owen scores in the corner after being fed by Lupton, 49mins, Westerman converts, 18-18; King shows great strength to surge forward and offload to Mark Gleeson, 53mins, Hicks converts, 18-24; Vinnie Anderson is in support to finish a Kiwi combination after Louis Anderson's break from Rauhihi's pass, 56mins, Hicks converts, 18-30; Lupton scores from Sherwin's long pass, 59mins, Westerman converts, 24-30; Westerman crosses after a suspiciously forward pass from Sherwin, 65mins, 28-30; Westerman kicks penalty, 75mins, 30-30; Sherwin lands 25m drop goal, 78mins, 31-30; Louis Anderson is fed by Martin Gleeson, 79mins, 31-34.
Sin bin: Wolves: Vinnie Anderson 24mins (holding down).
Pens: Tigers 6 Wolves 8
Scrums: Tigers 5 Wolves 2
Attendance: 7,245
Warrington Guardian top men: Louis Anderson 3pts, Vinnie Anderson 2pts, King 1pt.
Interesting note: Wolves recorded two wins over the Easter period for the first time since 2001.
6:00am Thursday 27th March 2008
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CommentPosted by: tizerbeast, warrington on 8:56am Thu 27 Mar 08
well said tony!
we are getting good leads early in games and then leaking points at an alarming rate later,
we will pay the price with a bigger club if this continues, we should have buried cas as others have done this must raise concerns with the club all good work wasted and winning by the skin of our teeth
well said tony!
we are getting good leads early in games and then leaking points at an alarming rate later,
we will pay the price with a bigger club if this continues, we should have buried cas as others have done this must raise concerns with the club all good work wasted and winning by the skin of our teeth
Posted by: Big Jim, Warrington on 9:58am Thu 27 Mar 08
I agree with Tony and Tizerbeast. To get more points we need more consistency from goal kicking as we only seem able to score in the corners this season. To go 12 points clear twice in a game against the bottom club and not "kick on" is difficult to understand. At the Wakefield away last year we went clear and then got caught twice and eventually beaten by a poor side. When we take a good lead we don't seem to get the next score. How far in front of Wigan were we and then end up with a respectable (for Wigan) score. Surely the coaching staff indentify games where they feel a big score is achievable. Attack is and has always been the best form of defence. Just look at Leeds this season, because of the attack mentality they are going to steam roll every team (especially on Friday). We all now know we can step up to the mark in attack lets tighten up the defence. Quins will be difficult to beat.
I agree with Tony and Tizerbeast. To get more points we need more consistency from goal kicking as we only seem able to score in the corners this season. To go 12 points clear twice in a game against the bottom club and not "kick on" is difficult to understand. At the Wakefield away last year we went clear and then got caught twice and eventually beaten by a poor side. When we take a good lead we don't seem to get the next score. How far in front of Wigan were we and then end up with a respectable (for Wigan) score. Surely the coaching staff indentify games where they feel a big score is achievable. Attack is and has always been the best form of defence. Just look at Leeds this season, because of the attack mentality they are going to steam roll every team (especially on Friday). We all now know we can step up to the mark in attack lets tighten up the defence. Quins will be difficult to beat.
Posted by: Haz, Callands on 2:00pm Thu 27 Mar 08
The thing is that we give too many penalties away, and usually they are in areas where the other team go for the kick and get the 2 points. Refering to Big Jim's comment above, 2 of Wigans tries in the last 10 mins were given to them from cheap penalties (holding down in the tackle too long), and like he said, this looked respectable for Wigan. We are a good team, but it is frustrating when we only win by a few points when other teams can manage a 15+points difference. Sometimes it looks like we switch off with 10 mins to go and that is when we let teams come back at us, but it is hopefull that at least we came back on the 79th min on Monday, showing we can play the full 80 mins. We have the players to do damage this season and when we attack we play some fantastic rugby! - COME ON WIRE, see you Saturday!!!
The thing is that we give too many penalties away, and usually they are in areas where the other team go for the kick and get the 2 points. Refering to Big Jim's comment above, 2 of Wigans tries in the last 10 mins were given to them from cheap penalties (holding down in the tackle too long), and like he said, this looked respectable for Wigan. We are a good team, but it is frustrating when we only win by a few points when other teams can manage a 15+points difference. Sometimes it looks like we switch off with 10 mins to go and that is when we let teams come back at us, but it is hopefull that at least we came back on the 79th min on Monday, showing we can play the full 80 mins. We have the players to do damage this season and when we attack we play some fantastic rugby! - COME ON WIRE, see you Saturday!!!
Posted by: Big Jim, Warrington on 4:34pm Thu 27 Mar 08
When the Quins travel yhey can be dreadful and lose heavily (they have been better this year though). However, if we go at Quins with an all out attack they will not be able to handle us. We should hit them hard for 20 minutes consoidate and do it again second half. But for heavens sake do not let them creep back in if we are leading!
When the Quins travel yhey can be dreadful and lose heavily (they have been better this year though). However, if we go at Quins with an all out attack they will not be able to handle us. We should hit them hard for 20 minutes consoidate and do it again second half. But for heavens sake do not let them creep back in if we are leading!
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