Making the short trip to the Salford Community Stadium in Salford, the Warrington Wolves had one eye on the top of the table, but the other looking over their shoulder at Salford in the knowledge that a victory would see them move above St Helens while a reversal of great magnitude could see them drop below their opponents on points difference.
The Wolves were slight favourites for the win with the bookmakers, but the Red Devils were only given a four-point start on the handicap coupon, most commentators were unsure of the outcome with both clubs realistic prospects for a top six finish.
After yesterday’s shock reversals in round nine, anything could happen.
A barnstorming run from Tim Lafai opened the scoring for the Red Devils as he swatted aside the Warrington tacklers but the usually dependable Marc Sneyd was unable to add the extras from close to the left touchline.
On fourteen, and following a penalty for a high tackle, the Wolves equalised with a simple try as James Harrison blasted through poor tackling from the Salford defence to dive in for the four pointer. Stefan Ratchford, back in the line-up, added the conversion to put his side into the lead.
Matt Dufty bombed a certain try on twenty-four as he chased a George Williams try but failed to take the ball and ground when scoring would have been the easiest outcome.
Two minutes later Williams chased down his own chip over the top to collect and ground and after referring the decision to the fourth official as a TRY there was no evidence to overturn his decision. Ratchford was unable to find the target with the conversion, the Wolves a converted try ahead.
On twenty-nine it was the Red Devils turn to equalise with Joe Mellor scooting from acting half back to ground by the right post pad for the second Red Devils try of the afternoon. This time Sneyd made no mistake with the boot for 10-10. We had a game on our hands.
Ninety second from the interval Sneyd perfectly executed a thirty metre drop goal as his teammates bought him the time to take a composed kick. Salford were back into the narrowest of leads at the interval.
On fifty-three Salford were caught offside twenty from their own line, Warrington’s Ratchford gladly accepting the offer to put his side into a one-point lead.
The agony for Salford was compounded as Sneyd put the kick-off out on the full. As Warrington attacked, Leon Hayes was badly injured in the tackle and a long delay ensued while he was stretchered off by the medics.
On the hour mark Salford kept the ball alive on the last tackle with Ryan Brierley being tackled short and lunging for the line, the referee ruling the try out for a double movement but the video referee spotting a knock-on just short of the line.
Within a minute Warrington had worked their way to the Salford line, this time it was Paul Vaughan’s turn to knock on over the line, the side still separated by just a point.
Heading into the last ten minutes Sneyd attempted a penalty goal from forty metres out, and close to the right-hand touchline, the kick drifting just to the right of the uprights.
A kick towards the sticks from Watkins went towards the sticks and as a group of players chased the ball Brierley was taken out off the ball by Danny Walker with the video referee agreeing with the referee that it should be a penalty try. Sneyd added the goal for a five-point lead, enough to win the game and secure the points.
On a weekend of shock results, Salford sprang another small one in upsetting the Warrington Wolves in an intense and hard-fought game where the home side held their nerve and hung on for the win and the crucial two points which lifts them inside the top six. Warrington had their chances, but it was the grit and determination from the Red Devils which secured the points.
Salford Red Devils: Brierley (T), Ryan, Macdonald, Lafai (T), Cross, Atkin, Sneyd (2/4G, DG), Ormondroyd, Mellor (T), Vuniyayawa, Wright, Watkins, Partington. Subs: Cust, Shorrocks, Dixon, Dudson. 18th Man: Nofoaluma.
Warrington Wolves: Dufty, Thewlis, King, Ratchford (2/3G), Russell, Williams (T), Hayes, Harrison (T), Walker, Vaughan, Nicholson, Fitzgibbon, Currie. Subs: Philbin, Crowther, Bullock, Powell. 18th Man: Wood.
Half-Time: 11-10.
Full-Time: 17-12.
Score Progression: 4-0, 4-4, 4-6, 4-10, 8-10, 10-10, 11-10 : HT: 11-12, 15-12, 17-12 :FT.
Lead Exchanges: Salford – Square – Warrington – Square – Salford – Warrington - Salford.
Referee: James Vella.
