WARRINGTON Wolves compounded a day of misery for Salford with a comfortable 40-14 win at the Halliwell Jones Stadium.
Barely hours after Salford’s appeal against their six point deduction for breaching the sport’s salary cap regulations, Warrington hammered the final nail in the coffin of their top eight hopes.
Yet again, Dr Koukash’s expensively assembled squad was put to the sword by a Warrington team pushing for the highest possible finish in the top four as the season enters its final furlong.
It started so brightly for Salford, Junior Sau crossing for the game’s opening score after eight minutes.
But perhaps their lack of confidence on a turbulent day was evident when former Wire half back Gareth O’Brien missed a penalty on the quarter of an hour mark for what would have been a 6-0 lead.
In the opening game of Super League’s State of Mind round, dedicated to the mental health charity, it took Warrington 20 minutes to get going.
Joe Westerman was the man who broke the deadlock, taking advantage after Salford were pegged for offside.
The Red Devils continued to frustrate the Wolves, but their resolve was broken on the cusp of half time.
Centre Ryan Atkins took a sharp pass out wide from Chris Sandow to cross for Warrington’s second try, and Atkins made it a quick fire double, Dec Patton adding the extras for 18-4.
A three score deficit at half time was perhaps harsh reward for Salford’s endeavours, and Tom Lineham’s try early in the second half made their task even harder.
Though they briefly rallied, Josh Griffin scoring their second try, it was virtually one way traffic after the break.
Westerman added his second try, while Patton and Matty Russell also bagged four pointers.
Salford, who are now consigned to the Middle 8s with Leeds, had the final say with a late try from Robert Lui.
Joe Westerman Picture Eddie Whitham
Sims is delighted with Westerman! Picture Eddie Whitham
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