Salford steal win from youthful Wolves

A YOUTHFUL Warrington Wolves side suffered late heartbreak as they went down 20-18 at Salford Red Devils.

Steve Price made wholesale changes ahead of Saturday’s Challenge Cup semi-final, and the Wolves led 18-0 in the first half.

But the Red Devils fought back, and Krisnan Inu’s penalty less than 90 seconds from the end stole the win.

Connor Wrench, Nathan Roebuck, Cole Oakley and Kyle Shelford were all handed debuts in a side that was captained by Dec Patton, with forward Sitaleki Akauola named on the wing.

Roebuck marked his debut with the opening try on the 20 minute mark and fellow youngster Josh Thewlis grabbed a second on the half hour.

Another academy product, Riley Dean, scored a third, all converted by Patton, though Salford got themselves on the board right on half time through former Wolves winger Rhys Williams.

Williams’ fellow Wales international Elliot Kear dragged Salford within a score on 52 minutes and then with nine minutes to play, Tom Gilmore marked his Salford debut with a try, enabling Krisnan Inu to level it up.

After a few missed drop goals, it looked like golden point was looming, until Inu got the decisive two points and earn Salford the win.

Salford: Ashall-Bott, Roberts, Inu, Kear, Williams, Gilmore, Atkin, Mossop, Jones, Ikahihifo, McCarthy, Ormondroyd, Burke. Subs: Ackers, Pauli, Lannon, Greenwood.

Warrington: Thewlis, Akauola, Wrench, Brand, Roebuck, Dean, Patton, Latu, Walker, Johnson, Longstaff, Robson, Davis. Subs: Kibula, Doro, Oakley, Shelford.