 | MATCH SUMMARY Salford (14) 28
Tries: Finnigan, Coley, Wilshere, Dunemann, Hodgson
Goals: Hodgson 4 Wigan (4) 10
Tries: Richards, Orr
Goals: Tickle |
Salford continued their superb start to the season with a stunning win over Wigan to jump up to second place in the fledgling Super League table. The Reds led 14-4 at the interval after tries from Simon Finnegan and Andy Coley, Pat Richards replying for Wigan.
The hosts repelled concerted Warriors pressure after the break, crossing for further tries from John Wilshere, Andrew Dunemann and Karl Fitzpatrick.
Wigan could only muster a try for Danny Orr as they slipped to second bottom.
It was their third defeat in four games and the visitors must have wished the heavy snowfall which threatened the game - played on a surface more suited to snowboarding - had continued.
The Reds took the lead in the ninth minute when Luke Robinson hoisted a bomb towards Mark Calderwood in the in-goal area and Finnegan rose highest to touch down.
The conversion and a penalty from David Hodgson extended the lead before Wilshere fumbled a high kick into the hands of Orr, whose long ball out right was touched on by Calderwood into the hands of Richards.
Superb Salford defence was then needed to keep the Warriors out, Wilshere producing a real try-saver in the corner to deny Brett Dallas.
Instead, Coley crashed over at the other end, Hodgson's goal opening a 10-point gap.
Wigan got back into it on the resumption when Dennis Moran, Harrison Hansen and Richards combined for Orr to dive over, Danny Tickle's goal making it 14-10.
But the Reds absorbed all the pressure and broke away on the hour when Wilshere squeezed in at the corner.
Victory was secured eight minutes from time when Wilshere jinked through on the last tackle and kicked through for Dunemann to score, Hodgson rounding off a jubilant night at the Willows by going over from 40 yards.
Salford coach Karl Harrison:
"After last week's performance against Bradford we spoke all week about getting a result in this game. "We made it difficult for Wigan and I thought we defended manfully. At one stage in the second half we defended six successive sets, which was excellent.
"I thought both sets of players showed great skill levels and it made for a really exciting game."
Wigan coach Ian Millward:
"We made no progress tonight. We took a couple of big steps back. "We had a 77% completion rate in the first half and 42% in the second half, and that tells you the story.
"They did everything better than us. They ran harder, they tackled harder and they chased harder than we did.
"But they've done really well, and they've won three out of their four games, so it wasn't a one-off tonight. I don't want to take anything away from Salford."
Salford: Fitzpatrick, Hodgson, Littler, Moule, Wilshere, Dunemann, Robinson, Baldwin, Alker, Highton, Coley, Brocklehurst, Finnigan. Replacements: Clough, Haggerty, Rutgerson, Langi.
Wigan: Ashton, Dallas, Richards, Vaealiki, Calderwood, Orr, Moran, Seu Seu, Godwin, Logan, Tickle, Hansen, Brown. Replacements: Paleaaesina, Hargreaves, Tomkins, Higham.
Referee: K Kirkpatrick (Warrington).
MMIX
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