WOLVES, in contrast to their previous outing, took comfort in leading from the off at Castleford.

Stefan Ratchford was in inspired form at full back in the absence of Matty Russell and it was his breaks in the second half that helped seal Wolves’ play-offs semi-final spot.

The hostile atmosphere in the Jungle looked like it was beginning to tell on Tony Smith’s side when Luke Dorn crossed to bring the hosts within two points.

But cue a lightening Ratchford dart from deep inside his own half and a superb offload to Richie Myler, who teed up half-back partner Gareth O’Brien to sail over.

Moments later it was the former Salford man again whose looping pass sent Rhys Evans in at the corner for another converted try and, within 10 minutes of Dorn’s effort, Wolves had opened a 14-point advantage.

The Jungle fell quiet – minus a dancing band of primrose and blue at the opposite end to the tries.

Wolves had done their Grand Final ambitions no harm when, after three minutes, they got off to the start that deserted them a week earlier against Widnes Vikings.

At The Halliwell Jones Stadium they had had to fight back, but with Ryan Atkins scooting over after Ben Harrison charged down Jamie Ellis’ kick, they were always ahead.

It was a long way from the routing Tigers handed out on Easter Monday, with both defences producing huge displays, especially in the first half.

Ellis and Joel Monaghan, on the end of a Chris Bridge assist for the fourth time in two games, traded tries as Wolves entered the break with a six-point lead.

Roy Asotasi, who could be hitting form at the right time for Wolves, was denied a try for his efforts by the video referee and Dorn’s score soon followed.

Then came Ratchford’s purple patch, which was complemented by a second try, and 37th of the season, for Joel Monaghan with eight minutes to go.

It gave Wolves the breathing space they needed, especially after Evans found himself in the sin-bin, with Michael Shenton making the most of Tigers’ numerical advantage.

Monaghan did not quite have the lungs to escape future teammate Daryl Clark late on, but Smith’s side by then had both feet firmly in the last four.

MATCH FACTS

Super League play-offs, Thursday, September 25

Castleford Tigers...14 Warrington Wolves...30

Tigers: Luke Dorn; James Clare, Michael Channing, Michael Shenton, Justin Carney; Marc Sneyd, Jamie Ellis; Andy Lynch, Daryl Clark, Craig Huby, Oliver Holmes, Weller Hauraki, Nathan Massey. Subs: Kirk Dixon, Adam Milner, Grant Millington, Scott Wheeldon.

Wolves: Stefan Ratchford; Joel Monaghan,Chris Bridge, Ryan Atkins, Rhys Evans; Gareth O’Brien, Richie Myler; Chris Hill, Michael Monaghan, Anthony England, James Laithwaite, Trent Waterhouse, Ben Harrison. Subs: Micky Higham, Roy Asotasi, Ben Currie, Paul Wood.

Scoring: Atkins try, 3mins, Ratchford goal, 0-6; Ellis try, 23mins, 4-6; J Monaghan try, 27mins, 4-10; Ratchford penalty goal, 51mins, 4-12; Dorn try, 56mins, Sneyd goal, 10-12; O’Brien try, 62mins, Ratchford goal, 10-18; Evans try, 66mins, Ratchford goal, 10-24; J Monaghan try, 72mins, Ratchford goal, 10-30; Shenton try, 77mins, 14-30.

Referee: Phil Bentham

Penalties: Castleford 5 Wolves 7

Sin bin: Evans, 74mins

Attendance: 6,219

Top man: Stefan Ratchford