With the 50th anniversary of the “Watersplash Final” only weeks away, perhaps it was fitting that two of Super League’s best sides put on an Easter Monday show in conditions not unlike those for that iconic Challenge Cup final of 1968.
As on that day at Wembley – when Don Fox missed a simple conversion that would have taken the cup to Yorkshire withWakefield Trinity – this was not an afternoon for free-flowing rugby although for Warrington, who won their fourth match in succession with this victory at Castleford, that will matter little.
This result – in abysmal conditions following heavy rain in West Yorkshire overnight – represents another important step for Warrington under their new coach, Steve Price. And how grateful the Wolves will be that the game passed a pitch inspection.
“That was tough going considering the conditions,” Price said. “I’ve just spoken to Hilly [the captain, Chris Hill] and he’s never played in those conditions before. I was always keen to play the game and it’s credit to Cas for going above and beyond to get the game to go ahead. It was a tough battle and it’s good to get away with the two points.”
By half-time Warrington led 10-0, an impressive advantage given they were attacking an end of the Mend‑A‑Hose Jungle which was in parts under water. Conditions made the prospect of tries remote but after Stefan Ratchford had kicked Warrington into a 4-0 lead some glorious handling enabled Toby King to score on the half-time hooter.
Ratchford improved that try to open up a 10-point lead but Castleford, who were in pursuit of a sixth consecutive win, made matters interesting midway through the second half when a Luke Gale kick ricocheted into the path of Oliver Holmes and Gale reduced the gap to four with the conversion.
The Tigers looked as though they had levelled the scores with 15 minutes remaining but Jake Webster’s try was ruled out by the referee, Robert Hicks, after he was adjudged to have kicked the ball from the grasp of a Warrington defender. Daryl Clark’s try in the final moments then secured victory for the visitors.
Of the disallowed try Daryl Powell, the Castleford coach, said: “I thought we had some tough calls today. I’m not sure he had it fully in his hands, I need to see it back. But I’m not blaming anybody but ourselves and a good performance by Warrington.”
