With all the talk centred around Daryl Clark facing his former club Castleford for the first time, it was perhaps inevitable the player who in effect stepped into his shoes would inspire the victory against an out-of-sorts Warrington.
Clark and his opposing number, Adam Milner, had played in tandem together at Castleford before the former headed to Warrington in a six-figure transfer deal last year, but it was Milner who produced the game’s outstanding performance, outshining Clark from start to finish and playing a pivotal role in a 22-14 win.
With the game scoreless for over 25 minutes and the tension clearly getting to two sides searching for some sort of form, Milner shared in a moment of magic to cross for a try that surged Castleford into a lead they would never lose.
The second match of the hectic Easter period often brings games that are filled with errors and jaded performances, and that was very much the case for Warrington. Ultimately, though, it was Castleford’s grit, guts and determination that got them over the line. The win enabled them to leapfrog their opponents in the Super League table.
“I thought that was the best performance in terms of effort and courage I’ve seen since I came to the club,” said the Castleford coach, Daryl Powell. “Having to come to Warrington as the second part of Easter after just playing Leeds was tough but what the boys served up – with less resting time than Warrington – was simply superb.
“That’s the best I’ve seen him play to be honest,” Powell added about Milner’s performance. “He’s getting better and better, and he looks a very high-quality player. He had Clarky in front of him last year but he got over the top of him today and it’s a huge pat on the back for him.”
But as impressive as Milner and Castleford were, the worrying start to the season continues for Warrington. Tipped by many to be title contenders, they are now the lowest points scorers in Super League – and ended Easter Monday inside the dreaded bottom four.
On their worst run of form since 2009, Warrington face a huge game against the bottom side, Wakefield, on Saturday in a bid to halt their alarming slide. “We’re hurting a lot at the moment but it’s all about sticking together and working hard to turn this situation around,” said their coach, Tony Smith. “We’re going through a bit of a thin period but we’ll stick at it and repay the fans who have stuck with is. It’s a run that tests your resolve but we’ll come back and when we do, we’ll come back strongly.”
Two tries apiece from either side in the first half left the game finely poised at 10-10 at the break and, with errors starting to creep into the match as fatigue inevitably set in, it became apparent a moment of magic would be needed to nudge either side back in front.
As the game entered the final quarter, that moment arrived when Frankie Mariano burst through the Warrington line, before offloading magnificently for Milner, who crossed under the posts.
Warrington posted back-to-back tries in the first half through Stefan Ratchford and Ryan Atkins to lead 10-4 at one stage, and Castleford would do the same in the second, as Milner’s score was immediately followed up with a try from the half-back Ben Roberts, again courtesy of more good work from the impressive duo of Luke Gale and Milner.
A late consolation from Kevin Penny only proved to be a false dawn in terms of a comeback, as Castleford held on to secure a priceless two points and inflict more misery on Clark and Warrington.
Warrington Ratchford; Monaghan, Bridge, Atkins, Penny; O’Brien, Myler; Hill, Higham, Sims, Currie, Westwood, Harrison.
Interchange Clark, Asotasi, England, Laithwaite.
Tries Ratchford, Atkins, Penny Goal O’Brien
Castleford Dorn; Tansey, Channing, Shenton, Carney; Roberts, Gale; Lynch, Moore, Wheeldon, Mariano, Cook, Massey. Interchange Milner, Millington, Boyle, Maher.
Tries Tansey, Dorn, Milner, Roberts Goals Gale 3
Attendance 8,580 Referee J Child
