WARRINGTON Wolves almost paid the penalty for fielding an under-strength side as they held on for a narrow 24-20 victory over Salford City Reds to move to within a point of Stobart Super League leaders Wigan.
Missing a number of regular first-team players ahead of next week’s cup clash at Catalan including Adrian Morley, Lee Briers and Michael Monaghan, the Wolves trailed 10-4 for most of the first half but they went two points ahead on the stroke of half-time thanks to Rhys Williams’ second try.
Second-half tries from Ben Currie (pictured top) and Garreth Carvell should have ended the game as a contest but the Wolves were left hanging on after Daniel Holdsworth and Danny Williams both touched down for the visitors.
Warrington opened the scoring after a smart passing move along the left ended with Williams holding off the challenge of Holdsworth to touch down.
Salford got their first try of the afternoon after a mistake from Gareth O’Brien. Forty yards from Salford’s try line, O’Brien’s pass along the line went straight to Ashley Gibson, who won the 60-metre foot race to go over under the posts.
After good work from Joel Moon and Jodie Broughton on the left ended with the latter falling just short of the try line, the ball was worked along the right and Luke Patten put through Gibson to touch down in the corner.
Warrington hit back when Williams touched down on the left for his second of the afternoon after Patten had given away a penalty for a knock-on deep in Salford territory and O’Brien added the extras for a slender 12-10 interval lead.
After Jodie Broughton had a try disallowed for a foot in touch, Currie made Salford pay by grabbing his first Warrington try.
Paul Wood started the move by bursting through Salford’s defence and the Wolves quickly worked the ball to Currie, who stepped inside to wriggle over – despite suggestions of a double movement.
Carvell then excellently bundled his way through two Salford defenders to cross near the posts and O’Brien’s fourth conversion gave the Wolves a 24-10 advantage.
But with seven minutes remaining Warrington made life difficult for themselves when Holdsworth touched down after Chris Riley had spilled Matty Smith’s bomb.
Williams set up a grandstand finish when he grounded a loose ball on the right to narrow the deficit to just four points, but the Wolves held on.
Rhys Williams shows his strength
Rhys Williams gets in at the corner
Gaz Carvell powers through
Gaz Carvell uses his strength to score
Ben McCurrie touches down
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