After a week of sizzling temperatures it was a damp and blustery night in Salford. Warrington arrived as clear favourites but Sam Burgess will be the first to admit his side have not really got near the standard required to challenge for the Grand Final. 

Paul Rowley welcomed back Joe Shorrocks from suspension and he started at loose forward. Cain Robb started at hooker and  Tiaki Chan returned on the bench. 

The Wolves had a really strong side out with Marc Sneyd and George Williams at half back. Matt Dufty started at fullback with the Thewlis brothers on either wing. Sam Stone started in the second row with Ben Currie at loose forward 

Warrington started well and were denied early on by the video referee. 

A lovely offload from Williams sent Dufty over in the seventh minute and many must of thought the flood gates would open. They didn’t though, not at all. If anything Salford seemed to be a little more composed than of recent weeks. Jayden Nikorima and Danny Richardson linked well together and started to cause Warrington a defensive headache. Nikorima was deceptive and hard to pin down. Richardson organised and moved the team with a thumping kicking game. 

A booming Richardson kick for touch from a penalty got Salford some vital field position. The hosts looked a lot sharper than of recent week but still the final play seemed rushed at times as Salford tried desperately to get on the scoreboard. 

The Red Devils pressed Warrington and their persistence paid off forcing a mistake. Salford went wide and Ethan Ryan finished superbly with a try. Chris Hankinson failed to convert but that try seemed to inject the home side with a double shot of belief. They came roaring forward forcing Warrington on the back foot. A penalty came under the sticks and Hankinson levelled the score with no hesitation, 6-6.

Salford looked unrecognisable to their recent form and when Richardson thumped a forty-twenty kick the crowd lifted again. Another penalty followed and Hankinson had a tough decision to make. The sensible thing to do was kick at goal and that was the one Salford chose, 8-6.

The Red Devils thoroughly deserved the lead. 

A defensive clock off five minutes before half time saw James Harrison charge over to restore Warrington’s lead. With a 8-12 score line at the break you could feel the excitement amongst the home supporters. They’d survived on scraps all season and the odd spell in matches but in this one you felt they had a real chance.

Nikorima broke but couldn’t find the killer pass at the start of the second half. Two penalty goals from Hankinson though got Salford level at 12-12.

On loan hooker Cain Robb played his heart out coming up with some outstanding tackles in defence. Hankinson also got through his fair share of defensive work with some try saving efforts. Chris Hill and Jack Ormondroyd led from the front charging the ball in set after set. 

As the match approached the hour mark Salford were on top. Defending ferociously the crowd picked up on this and roared every tackle. 

Richardson was caught late after a kick and shown a green card. No penalty was awarded though and this turned out to be a significant turning point.

A simple kick to the corner found plenty of space and Thewlis scored an easy try. Sneyd failed to convert but Warrington were back in front 12-16 on the hour mark.

The Salford faithful held their breath as another huge kick from Richardson spiralled towards the Wolves try line. The ball was lost and Esan Marsters collected to dive over. The referee called upon the video referee but awarded no try on the field. It was another big call that went against the Red Devils.

Luke Yates stole a penalty for Warrington with some cheap play and this time Sneyd cautiously took the two points on offer to extend the lead to six points. 12-18.

In the final fifteen minutes Salford were hit by a whirlwind of penalties and six agains. The pressure final told when substitute Stefan Ratchford went over to seal the match. 

The Red Devils defended their line frantically in the closing stages with a real resilient attitude. 

In most matches this season Salford have been knocked out in the early stages and never recovered. This week though they went the distance in a heroic performance full of courage and ambition. It wasn’t the result they wanted but that display could be the catalyst to finally start rebuilding.

Salford 12 Warrington 24.

Paul Whiteside.

Big thanks to Steve McCormick for the photos.