Wolves take advantage of Cas crumble to Wolves

Darryl Van De Velde found a trip to his old home ground the perfect way for his Warrington side to recuperate after last week's humiliation by bottom club Huddersfield-Sheffield.

Darryl Van De Velde found a trip to his old home ground the perfect way for his Warrington side to recuperate after last week's humiliation by bottom club Huddersfield-Sheffield.

Castleford looked a top-five side in name only at The Jungle last night as they allowed Allan Langer, Lee Briers and Toa Kohe-Love to open them up at will as much of the damage of last week was repaired.

"It was a good effort after our last game," Van de Velde said. "There's always been a football team in there, but we haven't seen it this season."

Cas could hardly have made their former coach feel more at home in the first 40 minutes. Turning in by far their worst half of the season, they proved the ideal antidote to Warrington's recent traumas.

They got the perfect start after less than a minute when Andrew Purcell knocked on in front of his own posts and, with the Castleford defence slow to regroup from the scrum, Danny Farrar barged over from dummy-half.

Cas and their usually reliable captain, Adrian Vowles, in particular continued their error strewn way. It was Vowles's fumble from a Briers kick that allowed Langer to send Kohe-Love over.

Even when Warrington took a wrong option, it turned out for the best. Briers's short kick near his own line conceded possession, but a bad pass from Danny Orr enabled Kohe-Love to pick up and go 80 yards for his second.

Warrington would have felt even more confident if they could have held that 14-point advantage until half-time, but with a couple of seconds remaining they cracked. Langer had a chance to clear Orr's kick, but obviously thought it would run dead, Brad Davis proving otherwise by following up to touch down and Orr kicking the goal to further reduce Warrington's lead.

Crucially, Warrington restored their lead before doubts had a chance to creep in two minutes into the second half, Briers running on to Langer's reverse pass to dive over exultantly.

Langer's kick found Lee Harland confused by the upright for Steve McCurrie to touch down for the try that made it safe and Briers's arcing run from Langer's long pass emphasised how well the half-backs were working together.

Late tries from Richard Gay - their best player - and Andy Lynch could not disguise Castleford's poverty.

"I'm bemused and very embarrassed to be involved in a performance like that," said their coach, Stuart Raper. "It's the worst since I've been involved in this club and I hope it will be a wake-up call to us."

Castleford Tigers: Gay; Wells, Mather, Eagar, Rogers; Purcell, Davis; Shaw, Tonks, Sykes, Fritz, Harland, Vowles. Substitutes used: Orr, Flowers, L Campbell, Lynch.

Warrington Wolves: Penny; Smyth, Kohe-Love, Hunte, C Campbell; Briers, Langer; Gee, Farrar, Nutley, Noone, McCurrie, Nikau. Substitutes used: Cowell, Peters, Hilton, Guisset.

Referee: I Smith (Oldham).