There have arguably been few worse play-off games in a dozen Super League seasons, but Wigan Warriors survived to fight another day after Castleford Tigers saved one of their least effective performances for last night’s elimination tie at the DW Stadium.

A repeat of Castleford’s famous win on the ground at the same stage of the end-of-season competition ten years ago emerged as a remote possibility after Joe Westerman scored and converted their second try four minutes from the end. However, the Tigers failed to press home their momentum and a relieved Wigan progressed through to an away preliminary semi-final against Hull Kingston Rovers on Saturday.

Against a misfiring Castleford, Wigan just had enough in their armoury over the first 50 minutes and defended manfully in the final half-hour. They will require a vast improvement if they are seriously to threaten a run to Old Trafford on October 10.

Brian Noble, the departing Wigan coach, has a happy knack of leading his teams far at the business end of the season, having reached five consecutive Grand Finals with Bradford Bulls. “Cas were dogged and determined at the back end, but I was always confident,” he said. “We dominated for 60 to 65 minutes and conspired to make it more nervous than it should have been.”

Craig Huby’s barging effort and Westerman’s try were a case of too little too late for Castleford, who took the wooden spoon in 2008 but who have made impressive progress this season.Wigan led 12-0 after the scruffiest 40 minutes imaginable. A game afflicted by tension on both sides was made worse by the lottery around the play-the-ball — an unfortunate theme of the opening weekend. With flying arms, legs and boots cluttering up the ruck area, neither team generated much speed. When the pace did pick up, unforced errors proliferated.

Castleford, especially, struggled for momentum. Rangi Chase looked all at sea at hooker and Brent Sherwin’s service at scrum half was uncharacteristically wayward. Wigan fared little better, but the introduction of a replacement front row after the opening quarter in Stuart Fielden, Iafeta Paleaaesina and Mark Riddell pepped them up sufficiently to take the lead after 22 minutes.

In a rehearsed move, Thomas Leuluai lofted a kick to the left and Pat Richards tipped the ball down for Harrison Hansen to scramble over. Leuluai produced a carbon copy move ten minutes later, with Richards channelling possession back for George Carmont to get outside Kirk Dixon. Richards added both conversions and his penalty goal within three minutes of the resumption gave Wigan a three-score cushion.

The Warriors visibly relaxed and began to play, while Castleford continued to stumble. Ryan McGoldrick was fortunate to escape with a ticking-off for an ugly high tackle on the consistently excellent Cameron Phelps, whose senses were still sufficiently in order for him to move into the line from full back and supply the final pass for Amos Roberts to administer the crucial blow in the 52nd minute.

Scorers: Wigan Warriors: Tries: Hansen, Carmont, Roberts. Goals: Richards 3. Castleford Tigers: Tries: Huby, Westerman. Goals: Westerman 2.

Wigan Warriors: C Phelps; A Roberts, M Gleeson, G Carmont, P Richards; S Tomkins, T Leuluai; A Coley, M McIlorum, P Prescott, J Tomkins, H Hansen, S O’Loughlin. Interchange: S Fielden, M Riddell, I Paleaaesina, M Flanagan.

Castleford Tigers: R Owen; K Dixon, M Shenton, J Evans, M Wainwright; R McGoldrick, B Sherwin; M Sargent, R Chase, C Huby, B Ferres, R Clayton, S Jones. Interchange: J Westerman, L Higgins, C Feather, K Netherton.

Referee: I Smith.

Preliminary semi-finals

Friday Huddersfield Giants v Catalans Dragons, 8pm

Saturday Hull KR v Wigan Warriors, 5.30pm

Qualifying semi-finals

Oct 2-3 Leeds* and St Helens v preliminary semi-final winners

* Under the “club call” system, Leeds, as highest-placed finishers, will announce their choice of opponents on Sunday

Grand Final

Oct 10 Old Trafford, 6pm