PICTURES EDDIE WHITHAM
WARRINGTON Wolves remain rooted to the bottom of the Super League table after a third straight defeat as they went down 24-14 at Salford.
Warrington are still looking for their first Super League win of the season following another disappointing defeat which Head Coach Tony Smith described as a “spasmodic performance,” in a “sloppy game of rugby league.”
Warrington held a narrow lead at the interval with tries from Dec Patton and Jack Hughes cancelling out efforts from Junior Sa’u and George Griffin for the hosts.
After the break Kriss Brining’s scored to put the hosts in front before the Wolves levelled through Jack Johnson.
But Junior Sa’u won it for Salford when he crossed for his second try from a grubber kick.
It was Salford’s first victory over Warrington in their nine previous attempts.
Centre Sa’u touched down for the winning score from Michael Dobson’s kick through before former Wire half-back Gareth O’Brien added the goal and a late penalty to secure victory.
It doesn’t get any easier for Warrington who host champions Wigan on Thursday.
The Wolves remain bottom of the table and look a shadow of the team that beat Brisbane Broncos in the World Club Series.
After the game Smith, who described it as a “sloppy game of rugby league” with both teams guilty of giving the ball away due to the weather conditions, said: “We were up for the Brisbane game in a big way and put in an enormous amount of effort. Maybe it flattened us but it’s far from the end of the world for us.
“We know we are going to get some form together especially in the dry weather.
“At this stage of the year, you will get these kinds of results.
“I thought it was a spasmodic performance and our game management wasn’t terrific. We will keep working hard,” he added.
Salford: O’Brien, Johnson, Welham, Sa’u, Bibby, Lui, Dobson, Tasi, Tomkins, Mossop, Jones, Griffin, Flanagan.
Replacements: Brinning, Krasniqi, Kopczak, Lannon.
Warrington: Gidley, Johnson, Evans, Atkins, Lineham, Brown, Patton, Cooper, Clark, Sims, Hughes, Savelio, Westerman.
Replacements: Dwyer, Blythe, Livett, Westwood.
Salford (8) 24
Tries: Sa’u 2, Griffin, Brining Goals: O’Brien 4
Warrington(10) 14
Tries: Patton, Hughes, Johnson Goals: Patton
POST MATCH: Tony talks to the press after defeat at Salford #wireontour pic.twitter.com/Bpk7zfOFen
— Warrington Wolves (@wolvesrl) March 4, 2017
The Wolves struggled to create any sort of rhythm and were distinctly second best against Salford #SLSalWar https://t.co/x4knFy3r2d
— Jack Wynne (@JackRobertWynne) March 4, 2017
Salford ease past woeful Wire https://t.co/TsI9BFcS9P #rugbyleague
— Love Rugby League (@loverugbyleague) March 4, 2017
@wolvesrl bad luck tonight boys hope to bounce back next week 👌🏾
— Chris Sandow (@Sandow_7) March 4, 2017
No excuses from Tony Smith. “We’re not sitting where we’d like to sit, but it’s where you are after 23 rounds that counts.”
— Gareth Walker (@garethwalker13) March 4, 2017
