UNFORTUNATELY, this weekly tale is starting to become repetitive.

Once again, The Wire subjected their followers to an uninspiring display in which they continually contrived to shoot themselves in the foot.

It has happened a few times this year and they have got away with it on plenty of occasions. This match was another in which they did not.

In Castleford’s defence, what on earth were they supposed to do with all the possession and territory they were unexpectedly given?

> VIDEO: 'Keep believing,' Price tells Wire fans

Any top-flight side worth their salt would have taken advantage and sure enough, they did. All credit to them.

At times though, it appeared as if Castleford were men playing against boys such was the difference in energy and intensity.

They made metres for fun and dominated tackles whereas the Wire forwards toiled fruitlessly for go-forward.

Warrington Guardian:

This all meant the visitors struggled for extended periods of pressure and when they did get the chance to turn the screw, they made errors.

A casing point was after Tom Lineham had crossed to give them the lead and a perfect start to the second half, only for Lama Tasi to knock on returning the restart.

From then on, Wolves spent pretty much the remainder of the game on the back foot. It was all their own doing.

Daryl Clark – once again head and shoulders above his colleagues – was pretty much a lone crusader as he has been for a number of weeks.

> Clark insists Wire are not at panic stations over dip in form

It was his individual brilliance which looked like setting up a try in the final quarter, only for a loose offload following his break to be scooped up by Jake Trueman for an interception try that broke the game.

Warrington Guardian:

Steve Price bemoaned some of referee Scott Mikalauskas’ decisions, in particular the allowing of James Clare’s opening try despite what appeared to be a clear obstruction on Bryson Goodwin in the build-up.

Granted, that was a horrendous mistake from the officials, but that cannot be used as an excuse. The Wire got exactly what they deserved.

> PHOTO GALLERY: Action as Wire bungle at the Jungle

Warrington Guardian:

And so to the bigger picture.

Even beyond a crucial Challenge Cup semi-final against Hull FC, their next three league games see them travel to Catalans, host St Helens and visit Wigan.

A tough run by anyone’s standards and with each passing week, the margin for error decreases as the cushion they have built up in second place has

At a time when they should be building towards their best, The Wire are continuing to decline.

With the Tour de France currently taking centre stage in the sporting world, Warrington Wolves are like a lone cyclist who has dropped away from the breakaway leader and is now being reeled in by the peleton.

> Castleford 27 Wire 18 as it happened

INTERESTING NOTES:

. Wire's eighth loss of the season – the same number as they had after 23 games last season.

. Fourth defeat in six games for Warrington

. Back-to-back league losses for second time in 2019

MATCH FACTS:

Super League, Round 23

Sunday, July 21, 2019

Castleford Tigers...27 Warrington Wolves...18

Tigers: Jordan Rankin; James Clare, Greg Minikin, Peter Mata'utia, Tuoyo Egodo; Jake Trueman, Paul McShane; Nathan Massey, Adam Milner, Chris Clarkson, Oliver Holmes, Mike McMeeken, Jesse Sene-Lefao. Subs: Liam Watts, Grant Millington, Cory Aston, Daniel Smith

Wolves: Jake Mamo; Josh Charnley, Toby King, Bryson Goodwin, Tom Lineham; Blake Austin, Declan Patton; Chris Hill, Daryl Clark, Mike Cooper, Jack Hughes, Ben Currie, Jason Clark. Subs: Joe Philbin, Matt Davis, Lama Tasi, Danny Walker

Scoring: Patton penalty, 8mins, 0-2; Clare try, 11mins, Mata'utia goal, 6-2; Mata'utia penalty, 21mins, 8-2; Mata'utia penalty, 33mins, 10-2; Mamo try, 35mins, Patton goal, 10-8; Mata'utia penalty, 40mins, 12-8; Lineham try, 43mins, Patton goal, 12-14; Minikin try, 49mins, 16-14; Trueman try, 55mins, Mata'utia goal, 22-14; Egodo try, 60mins, 26-14; King try, 74mins, 26-18; Trueman drop goal, 80mins, 27-18

Penalties: Tigers 7 Wolves 7

Referee: Scott Mikalauskas

Attendance: 6,965

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