WARRINGTON Wolves’ losing run was extended to four games after a home defeat to Castleford Tigers on Easter Monday.

Castleford arrived at The Halliwell Jones Stadium without a win on the road so far in Super League this season, but Jordan Tansey gave the visitors an early lead.

Wolves made a swift reply and quick-fire tries from Stefan Ratchford and Ryan Atkins saw Tony Smith’s side take a six-point lead.

But Tigers hit back before the break with Luke Gale the architect to send over full back Luke Dorn, before tries from Adam Milner and Ben Roberts gave the visitors a 12-point lead with 10 minutes remaining.

Kevin Penny reduced the deficit with eight minutes to go, but Wolves could not stop a fourth successive loss – their worst run since the five straight defeats at the beginning of the 2009 season.

Frankie Mariano broke through several Wolves tackles and put the visitors deep in the hosts’ half six minutes in.

From there they worked the ball to Luke Gale, whose long pass found Tansey and he handed off Ben Harrison on his way over in the corner. Gale hit the post from a difficult conversion.

Wolves thought they had hit back six minutes later when a spell of pressure led to Chris Bridge flicking an offload for Joel Monaghan to dive over, but referee James Child called play back for a Castleford scrum.

Wolves did get their reply with 16 minutes played through Ratchford from Gareth O’Brien’s grubber.

Chris Hill broke the line and fed Richie Myler, returning to the side after a six-game injury lay off, and he wriggled past two would-be tacklers before finding Kevin Penny.

The Warrington-born winger handed on to Ben Currie, who was stopped close to the line, but the ball was moved to O’Brien and his perfect kick met the run of Ratchford between the posts. O’Brien added a simple conversion.

And within one minute the hosts increased their lead. Penny broke from deep and drew Luke Dorn, before handing on to Atkins for the centre to lead the Tigers full back on a dance before diving over.

O’Brien pulled the extras wide.

O’Brien was unable to repeat the feat on two occasions as Wolves looked for a third score, and half back partner Myler saw his kick palmed out of play with Atkins bearing down on 28 minutes.

Daryl Clark was introduced to face his former side half an hour in, replacing Micky Higham, but it was his opposite number who nearly crossed next.

Adam Milner picked up from the play-the-ball for Castleford and went for the line from close range, but he was held up with five minutes of the half remaining.

But moments later another fine ball sent Dorn through the Wolves line to touch down. Gale converted to level.

Wolves looked to put some early pressure on the Castleford line in the second half, but Roy Asotasi spilled the ball when stopped short from close range.

Milner did barge over at the other end, but he found himself held up beneath Chris Bridge and Ben Westwood.

England and then Westwood were guilty of knock-ons, while a Ratchford pass aimed at Penny found its way straight into touch.

Michael Channing looked odds on to score in the corner for the visitors when a well-weighted kick found him in space, but the bounce deceived him with 50 minutes played.

Tigers were then forced to defend their line and Bridge, Currie and Atkins all tried to force over without success.

Myler then tried to slip a grubber between the defensive line for his onrushing Wolves teammates at close range, but the Castleford cover pounced.

There was little given up by either side, with neither looking like taking the lead, until Myler and Bridge combined by exchanging offloads to leave the Castleford defence scrambling.

Bridge was eventually tackled and the ball whipped out to Currie, whose attempt to thread a grubber for Penny rebounded for Wolves’ versatile forward to ground himself.

Referee Child went to the video, but no try was the decision for a knock on from Penny.

With 15 minutes remaining it was the visitors who found the breakthrough, another break from Mariano guided his side deep into the hosts’ half and with two men in support he chose Milner to go between the posts. Gale converted.

And moments later Castleford increased their lead to 12 points. Currie charged down a clearance kick in the visitors’ half, but Gale gathered and made good ground.

Daryl Powell’s side worked the ball left and Roberts was able to reach out and touch down, with Gale adding the extras.

Wolves hit back almost immediately when a Myler cross-field kick was caught by Atkins, who offloaded to Currie and after the ball went loose he kicked on for Penny to react first.

The try was awarded after Child went to the video, but O’Brien’s missed conversion left Wolves trailing by more than a converted score.

Another quick break from Tony Smith’s side almost saw Penny ground again after Atkins had powered forward, but no try was the verdict this time.