PICTURES EDDIE WHITHAM
WARRINGTON Wolves continued their preparations for the 2018 Super League season with an 18-6 victory over Salford Red Devils.
In front of 3,208 fans at the Halliwell Jones Stadium, Warrington came from behind to see off their league rivals with now less than a fortnight until the season opener against champions Leeds.
There was no score for the first 23 minutes, before Robert Lui collected former Wolves player Gareth O’Brien’s kick for the first try, O’Brien converting for 6-0.
It was the first opportunity for fans to see Ben Murdoch-Masila in Wolves colours, and he went on to power past his former team-mates and help set up Joe Philbin to score a four-pointer, with Harvey Livett’s conversion making it 6-6 at the break.
Warrington, having been underwhelming in friendlies against Widnes and Rochdale to date, settled the nerves of the home fans at the start of the second half as Stefan Ratchford crossed, Livett again converting for 12-6.
New vice-captain Kevin Brown’s kick then found Ryan Atkins for what turned out to be the final scoring play of the game, on 51 minutes, which meant all the points had been scored in the middle 26 minutes of the match.
Brown played alongside Livett at half-back, with marquee signing Tyrone Roberts sitting out.
Roberts, Bryson Goodwin and Tom Lineham were perhaps the only players missing from a full strength starting 13 for the Wolves with veteran Bennie Westwood also rested.
Warrington: Ratchford, Russell, Brown, Atkins, J Johnson, Brown, Livett, Hill, Clark, Cooper, Currie, Hughes, Murdoch-Masila. Subs: G King, Pinder, Moran, Philbin, Prell, Smith, L Johnson.
Video interview with man of the match Daryl Clark
1 Comment
Philbin scored the first try not BMM.