Rugby League: Castleford have the skill and style to worry Wigan: Tomorrow's Premiership final will settle a series that is standing all square at two wins apiece. Dave Hadfield reports

IT WOULD have been hard to contrive a better finale to the season than a Stones Bitter Premiership final tomorrow that brings Castleford and Wigan together again for a settling of scores.

So much of the drama of the season has revolved around the two teams' four previous meetings that a fifth clash is the only logical way to wrap it all up.

Castleford humiliated Wigan in their first league game and in the Regal Trophy final, but then fell victim to a resurgent side with the scent of the big prizes in their nostrils and on their way to a league and cup double.

Now they stand between Wigan and a treble, an even greater rarity, and nothing would round off a successful first season better for their coach, John Joyner, than a

3-2 victory in their private series.

Joyner was named coach of the year this week in recognition of a debut campaign that has brought Castleford the Regal Trophy, a Challenge Cup semi-final and fourth place in the First Division.

Joyner's case was also helped by the ebullient quality of much of the rugby that Castleford have played. He would admit, though, that other factors have played a part. He inherited a good side from his predecessor, Darryl Van de Velde, who have remained astonishingly free from injury.

That stability could be on the point of cracking with the scrum- half and organiser, Mike Ford, and the First Division's leading try-scorer, St John Ellis, likely to join Van de Velde at the Queensland Crushers. There are not many better stages than Old Trafford for a dramatic farewell performance.

Castleford's chances will depend not only on the efforts of proven match-winners like Ford, Ellis and two of the most skilful forwards in the game, Lee Crooks and Tawera Nikau. Belated and, by most clubs' standards, modest injury problems have given young players like Andy Hay, the second row, and Chris Smith, the wing, their chance. Both have fitted in admirably.

Wigan have been through their ration of drama and departures, having sacked their coach, John Dorahy, since they last played Castleford. The caretaker in the role, Graeme West, has also had to cross Dean Bell off his list of assets, the player's career ended by niggling injuries.

He has also chosen to go into the final without Andy Platt on the grounds that the Great Britain prop - destined, like Bell, for the Auckland Warriors - is not going to Brisbane for the World Club Challenge. Platt has not always been at his commanding best in his final Wigan season, but choosing to go into a match of this magnitude without him seems risky.

West is also without Barrie-Jon Mather, who needs an operation on his shoulder, and possibly without Va'aiga Tuigamala, who has an ankle injury. Even allowing for these absentees, however, Wigan have looked excitingly potent in the two matches since he has been in charge.

Peter Walsh, the Australian who has coached Workington Town to the Second Division championship as well as its Premiership tomorrow, has been rewarded with a new two-year contract. His celebrations could well include taking possession of the trophy in which his side were runners-up last season.

Apart from the experience of that final against Featherstone, Town have individuals like Des Drummond, Phil McKenzie and Ged Byrne, who know all about the big occasion. That should be enough to give them the edge over London Crusaders in what is traditionally a vastly entertaining match.