A TIGHT calf ruled Matty Ashton out of contention for this afternoon’s Challenge Cup defeat to Wakefield Trinity.

The outside back was a surprise absentee from the 17 that crashed out of the cup, losing 16-12 at The Halliwell Jones Stadium.

Connor Wrench – himself making his return from a back stress fracture that has ruled him out since Round One – replaced him on the left wing and scored the game’s opening try.

Head coach Daryl Powell says fielding Ashton this week would have been too great a risk.

“It was something from earlier in the week – he tightened up in his calf and would have been a risk for today,” he said.

“I didn’t really want to take that risk with him and potentially have him out for five or six weeks.

“Connor Wrench hadn’t really trained that much but I thought it was best to put him in there.”