HEAD coach Stuart Barrow hailed Warrington Wolves under 19s academy team's last-gasp 19-18 win at Castleford Tigers as the best win of the season.

The Wire came back from 12-0 adrift in the second half and snatched victory with a Harry Reardon drop goal three minutes from time.

"They really did dig deep and were rewarded for their efforts," said Barrow.

"Even when we went 12-0 down just after half time they never wavered from the game plan and they gradually got themselves back into the game.

"I thought our forwards were outstanding once again, keeping us on the front foot and that then enabled both half backs to push us round the park and cause plenty of problems.

"Castleford are a very good side but we showed that we have a lot of steel in us and this win will hopefully do wonders for our confidence.

"It was our best display of the season so far and with a bit of luck we can continue in the same vein when we entertain City of Hull Academy in another mouthwatering encounter on Saturday, kick off 2pm at Victoria Park Stadium.”

Three tries in 11 minutes from Liam Jones, Ellis Gillam and Joe Edge turned the game on its head as young Wire took an 18-12 lead.

Castleford responded with their third converted try to set up the dramatic final act from Reardon.

Castleford opened the scoring in the eighth minute when an inside ball from scrum half Jake Trueman found second row Luis Johnson running at an angle and he broke through the Wolves defensive line on a thirty metre dash to score at the side of the posts.

Full back Jake Sweeting converted and then the rest of the half turned into a bit of an arm wrestle with both sides' defences refusing to give an inch and it was the Tigers who went in at the interval with a 6-0 lead.

Seven minutes into the second half the Tigers increased their advantage when, from close to the line, substitute Jacques O’Neill went from dummy half and he managed to keep the ball alive and fellow substitute Jack Ray picked up to score at the side of the posts.

Sweeting added the conversion but then seven minutes later, with the Tigers looking to move further clear, Wolves winger Liam Jones intercepted a pass and raced 90 metres, outpacing the chasing defenders to score wide out on the right. Full back Joe Edge added the conversion.

Almost immediately Wolves scrum half Harry Reardon kicked a great 40/20 and from the tap restart the ball was shipped along the line to second row Ellis Gillam who forced his way over wide out on the left despite the attention of four defenders.

Edge landed a difficult conversion to level the score at 12-12.

Wolves were now in the ascendancy and they took the lead for the first time when Reardon ran the ball at the Tigers defensive line on the last tackle and found Edge linking up. He stepped round three defenders to score a superb try at the right of the posts.

Edge converted his own try but then it was the Tigers turn to respond as loose forward Luke Million found Trueman from dummy half and his ball saw centre Pat Diskin run at angle to score at the left of the posts. Sweeting added the conversion to bring the score level once again.

Both sides then saw drop goal attempts fail but three minutes from time Wolves moved to within 20 metres of the Tigers line and the ball reached Reardon who coolly slotted over a drop goal to put his side back ahead and they managed to see the game out to record a thrilling and thoroughly deserved victory.

Wolves: Joe Edge; Liam Jones, Jack Roper, Charlie Phythian, Ryan Jones; Conor Taylor, Harry Reardon; Pat Moran, Nathan Ainsworth, Jack Cottington, Ellis Gillam, Matty Kilgannon, Ellis Robson. Subs Brad Pinder, Jack Wilson, Alex Tankard, Louis Wainwright.