Wigan Warriors 30 Castleford Tigers 22

Joe Burgess and Ben Flower both marked their first matches since the restart with a try apiece as Adrian Lam's outfit claimed their third successive win since the lockdown.

Wigan had edged into an 18-16 lead before tries from the outstanding Liam Farrell and Joe Bullock ensured there would be no nervy ending.

But Morgan Smithies may find himself in hot water for two incidents sandwiching half-time.

He lashed out at Grant Millington and then soon after the restart, was sinbinned for an apparent 'crusher' tackle on James Clare which led to the Tigers winger being stretchered off. The incidents will be viewed by the RFL's match review panel on Monday.

Burgess was called-up after Dom Manfredi withdrew for compassionate reasons.

And Wigan's other first-choice winger, Liam Marshall, left the action early through an injury.

Castleford, only drafted into this fixture when Catalans were ruled out by four Covid-19 cases, made a bright start to go 12-0 ahead..

Oliver Holmes spilled the ball under a strong Marshall tackle but it was only a brief reprieve for the Warriors, as Gareth O'Brien - a signing from Toronto - finished off a flowing move in the 16th minute.

Nathan Massey extended their advantage, with Danny Richardson hitting both goals, to put them 12-0 ahead. Wigan had rarely troubled the Tigers, but - with Farrell, Ethan Havard and Jackson Hastings impressing - came into the match to edge back ahead with three unanswered tries before the break.

First, Sam Powell muscled over from dummy half for his fifth try of the season. Burgess, looking quick and sharp, then finished off a break from Farrell before prop Flower crashed over, Zak Hardaker converting two to make it 16-12 at half-time - the final scoreline the last time these two sides met in February.

After Smithies' sinbinning, Darrell Olpherts took advantage of Cas' numerical advantage to lock the scores, but the seesawing scoring exchanges continued as Hardaker poked Wigan 18-16 in front with a penalty.

Errors undid much of Cas' good work, handing Wgan the possession and position from which Farrell charged onto Thomas Leuluai's pass to cross past the hour mark. Hardaker arrowed the conversion to make it 24-16.

Harry Smith's 40-20 typified Wigan's composure as the pressure intensified and from that platform, Bullock bumped off two defenders on the way to his first try of the year.

Hardaker's conversion opened up a 14 point lead with 11 minutes to go before Michael Shenton added a late consolation effort.

Wigan: French; Marshall, Hardaker, Bibby, J Burgess; Leuluai, Hastings; Bullock, Powell, Byrne, Isa, Farrell, Havard. Subs: G Burgess, Flower, Smith, Smithies

Castleford: O'Brien; Olpherts, Foster, Shenton, Clare; Trueman, Richardson; Watts, McShane, Griffin, Holmes, McMeeken, Massey. Subs: Millington, Milner, Sene-Lefao, Smith.

Half-time: 16-12

Referee: James Child