Furner's late penalty saves Wigan

Castleford 18 Wigan 18

A late penalty from David Furner gave a patched up Wigan a share of the points that they deserved for their brave efforts at Castleford.

Wigan rallied magnificently only to look like being beaten by a brilliant solo effort from Danny Orr, who also missed a last-minute drop goal that would have given the Tigers victory.

A Wigan team with seven regulars missing always looked potentially vulnerable to a Castleford side that had found its form in recent weeks.

The Tigers monopolised possession and stretched the Wigan defence in early stages. It brought them two tries, both to right-winger, Jon Wells. The first came when Danny Orr kicked beyond Wigan debutante Shaun Briscoe, for Wells to arrive and touchdown in one motion.

After 12 minutes, Castleford scored again. Mitch Healey lofted one to Wells, who managed to squeeze in at the corner. Wayne Bartrim's conversion made it a 10-point lead and it looked ominous for Wigan's irregulars

Once they got out of their own half for the first time after 17 minutes one of their youngsters, Martin Aspinwall, capitalised on Adrian Lam's lively lead-up work to score and their defence also began to find its feet.

David Furner, kicking in place of the absent Andy Farrell, landed a long-range penalty to cut the lead to four.

The Wigan fightback continued when, seven minutes into the second half, Lam's run disorientated the Castleford defence and Terry Newton took advantage, forcing his way over from dummy half. Despite losing Brian Carney and Lam to injuries in the tackle, Wigan went further ahead when Furner shrugged off Orr's tackle on his way to the try-line.

Bartrim cut the margin with a penalty and Wigan lost their lead 11 minutes from time when Orr kicked through three times and won the race for the ball.

But a punch thrown in the tackle gave Furner a chance to equalise. Although Castleford had the field position from which they should have manoeuvred an easier opportunity, Orr missed with a drop goal an attempt from a narrowing angle to leave a scoreline which reflected the closeness of the struggle.

Castleford: Rogers; Wells, Johnson, Mather, Pryce; Orr, Healey; Sykes, Bartrim, Lynch, Fritz, Michael Smith, Harland. Substitutes used: Saxton, Hudson, Sampson, Warren.

Wigan: Connolly; Ainscough, Bristoe, Aspinwall, Carney; O'Loughlin, Lam; C Smith, Newton, O'Connor, Tickle, Cassidy, Furner. Substitutes used: Bibey, Howard, Mark Smith, Robinson.

Referee: I Smith (Oldham).