TONY SMITH

praised the Warrington defence after his side moved back into second place in Super League with a dramatic 14-11 victory over Castleford.

It was a morale-boosting win before their Challenge Cup final date against table-toppers Hull next Saturday.

Castleford led 11-10 until Jack Hughes (above) went over in a nail-biting finale, and defeat was tough on the battling Tigers whose faint top-four hopes are now virtually extinguished.

Smith said: ‘It was a tough game but Castleford are one of the best attacking teams in the country.

‘To keep them to one try was a big effort.’