Warrington Wolves 38 Castleford Tigers 14, Guardian verdict

It had been a long 442 days between such occasions, due to both the impact of the coronavirus pandemic and the disappointing defeat to Huddersfield Giants at The Halliwell Jones Stadium five days earlier when reduced capacity crowds were first allowed back into sports grounds.

Just like the previous Monday, The Wire found themselves behind from early on in this Super League Round 7 game but on this occasion they were able to respond quickly, sustain it and run out comfortable winners against an understrength Castleford side whose coach Daryl Powell will be in charge of Warrington next season.

Sequence of Gareth Widdop's first of three tries. All pictures: Mike Boden

With the spine of Gareth Widdop, Blake Austin and Stefan Ratchford harmonising in a fashion they have rarely achieved before, The Wire had too much class for Cas as they ran away with things from midway through the second half after scoring had gone end to end in the opening 40 minutes.

Energetic chief orchestrator Widdop, who crossed for his first Wire hat-trick, produced his greatest performance yet in primrose and blue, while it was best-of-the-year stuff from his half-back partner Austin and creative full-back Ratchford, who also pulled off a try-saving tackle on England teammate Jake Trueman as the visitors threatened at the start of the second half.

Toby King, back at left centre after an appearance in the second row, was a constant threat and bagged himself a brace, while back rowers Jack Hughes and Ben Currie seemed to have even more bite than usual in their running in what was a sign of the determination across the board to get the job done.

Referee Chris Kendall says Ben Currie was held up over the try line

Skipper Jack Hughes returned after a one-match suspension

Cas, without 10 of Powell’s first-choice 17 and disrupted by the late withdrawals of Niall Evalds and Peter Mata’utia, gave as good as they got for an hour.

Josh Charnley's try that counted, above, and the one that didn't (for a forward pass by Ratchford). All pictures: Mike Boden

But soon after Josh Charnley had a second ‘squeeze-over’ try ruled out for a forward pass Widdop’s quickfire double sealed the outcome as well as some revenge for the team's defeat on the opening day of the season.

Gareth Widdop's hat-trick try in sequence

There was not a lot to read into this contest as a dress rehearsal for the Challenge Cup semi-final at Leigh Sports Village on June 5, though, because Steve Price’s side will no doubt be squaring up to a much changed side on that day.

INTERESTING NOTES:

- Steve Price’s 100th game in charge of Wire (discounting game forfeited by Salford in 2020)

- Josh Charnley's touch down means he draws level with ex-Wire centre Ryan Atkins in fifth place in the list of Super League's all-time leading try scorers

- Highest scoring game between the two sides since Wire's 34-30 home loss in 2018

- Attendance restricted to 4,000 due to Government coronavirus pandemic measures

MATCH FACTS:

Super League Round 7, Saturday, May 22, 2021

Warrington Wolves...38 Castleford Tigers...14

Wolves: Stef Ratchford; Josh Thewlis, Jake Mamo, Toby King, Josh Charnley; Blake Austin, Gareth Widdop; Chris Hill, Daryl Clark, Mike Cooper, Jack Hughes, Ben Currie, Joe Philbin. Subs: Jason Clark, Robbie Mulhern, Matt Davis, Rob Butler

Tigers: James Clare; Derrell Olpherts, Jesse Sene-Lefao, Michael Shenton, Jordan Turner; Jake Trueman, Danny Richardson; Nathan Massey, Paul McShane, Daniel Smith, George Griffin, Brad Martin, Adam Milner. Subs: Tyla Hepi, Suaia Matagi, Lewis Peachey, Lewis Bienek.

Scoring: Trueman try, 2mins, Richardson goal, 0-6; Charnley try, 11mins, 4-6; King try, 14mins, Ratchford goal, 10-6; Turner try, 18mins, 10-10; Widdop try, 23mins, 14-10; Ratchford penalty, 32mins, 16-10; Widdop try, 60mins, Ratchford goal, 22-10; Widdop try, 63mins, Ratchford goal, 28-10; King try, 66mins, 32-10; Daryl Clark try, 74mins, Ratchford goal, 38-10; Turner try, 78mins, 38-14.

Penalties: Wolves 3 Tigers 1

Referee: Chris Kendall

Attendance: 4,000

Top man (reader vote online): Gareth Widdop