Super League: Wigan Warriors 22-12 Castleford Tigers - Hosts maintain 100% record

Bevan French was making his first appearance for Wigan Warriors in 2021

Wigan Warriors maintained their 100% start to the season as they battled to a 22-12 victory against a resilient Castleford Tigers in Super League.

Derrell Olpherts got Cas off the mark when he touched down in the corner but Zak Hardaker levelled it up soon after.

Bevan French then scored for the hosts on his return from injury to give Wigan a 12-8 lead at the break.

Olpherts levelled the game at 12-12 before French's second and a Sam Powell try wrapped up the win.

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French, who was making his first appearance of the 2021 season, started on the wing because of Hardaker's form at full-back during his absence.

The duo dominated Wigan's attacking play, with NRL-bound Jackson Hastings producing a delicate down-field kick for French to receive for his second try.

Castleford, like the hosts, came into the game with a 100% record so far this season and gave Wigan a tough test on their return to the DW Stadium.

Olpherts' second try was initially not given as he looked to have been held up by French, however, referee Chris Kendall eventually awarded the try.

Wigan Warriors head coach Adrian Lam told BBC Radio Manchester:

"We joked during the week about Bevan scoring a hat-trick on his return but it wasn't quite there but it was good to have him on the field and he gives the dressing room confidence.

"I thought we were really courageous and tough. We were resilient. I thought our defence was great. There's areas we can fix like the disciplinary side.

"I thought we were a tough team that turned up and played for each other and I'm really proud of them today."

Castleford Tigers boss Daryl Powell told BBC Radio Leeds:

"It was a tough game. We worked hard but I don't think we were ever at our best tonight. We were in it for large parts but we lacked a little bit of quality in good attacking positions.

"Defensively we need to improve. I think we had 18 fit players today. We had players playing in different positions which you get nowadays because it's so tough.

"It's disappointing to lose but we were in the game and there were lots of good qualities in terms of the toughness and desperation of the team."

Wigan: Hardaker, French, Farrell, Isa, Bibby, Smith, Hastings, Partington, Bateman, Smithies, Singleton, Powell, Clubb.

Interchanges: Shorrocks, Bullock, Byrne, Havard.

Castleford: Evalds, Olpherts, Mata'utia, Shenton, Eden, Turner, Trueman, Massey, Blair, Holmes, Hepi, McShane, Watts.

Interchanges: Millington, Milner, Bienek, Martin.

Referee: Chris Kendall.

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