Super League´s only pointless side, Wakefield Trinity, had an ominous looking trip to the AJ Bell Stadium to take on an in form Salford Red Devils in the final game of round five on Sunday afternoon.
The Red Devils were big favourites for the win, especially after running in sixty points against Hull FC last time out but would need a big points win to improve their league position. Wakefield haven´t scored a single point in their last three outings and had been conceding at the rate of thirty-three points a game. There could only be one winner.
It was all too predictable for Salford as they opened the scoring on four minutes with Matty Costello going through a gap, after great fast hands passing, and rounding behind the sticks to improve the angle for Marc Sneyd to add the extra two points. So far so good, but this was the week that Wakefield weren´t going to throw in the towel.
After three scoreless matches Wakefield finally broke their opponent’s line when they exploited a two on one for Corey Hall to make the most of a Jorge Taufua break. Mason Lino added the extras to level the scores.
It was good pressure from Wakefield with a set restart and a couple of goal line drop outs Morgan Smith looked to have gone in down the right hand side but the referee ruled that he´d knocked on in the act of scoring.
Wakefield were in front on twenty-five when Salford failed to deal with a Lino kick to the corner, Reece Lyne collecting the loose ball for a walk in try. Lino was unable to add the conversion. This was a much-improved performance from Trinity, but Salford were very disappointing in the first half exchanges.
With two minutes of the half remaining Chris Atkin spotted a gap as he scooted from dummy half to go in for a great solo try. Sneyd added the conversion as the half time hooter sounded, Salford taking a narrow two point lead into the break.
Another Salford opportunity was spurned on the hour mark when Rhys Williams spilled the ball on the line.
Wakefield were awarded a penalty for a late tackle on Lino on sixty-nine. With the offence under the shadow of the sticks, Lino kicked the penalty to tie things up at 12-12 with the first points of the half.
Marc Sneyd snatched the home lead on seventy-six as he slotted over a drop goal to take a one-point advantage but within two minutes Lino responded to again wrap things up at 13-13.
Another Lino attempted drop goal on seventy-seven drifted wide of the posts as did one from Sneyd a minute later.
Another Lino attempt was charged at by Kallum Watkins on seventy-nine and again went wide and when Sneyd responded in the dying seconds he was also off target. The final hooter sounded and heralded golden point.
Four minutes into golden point extra time Sneyd slotted over the winning one-pointer for a 14-13 victory.
This was a poor game with neither side showing much initiative in attack. Defences were on top as error after error was forced close to the try line. The dying minutes turned into a kickathon as both sides looked to snatch the win. Wakefield are still anchored to the bottom of the table, Salford Red Devils up to fourth spot after five rounds.
Salford Red Devils: Brierley, Sio, Cross, Costello (T), Williams, Croft, Sneyd (2G, 2DG), Ormondroyd, Ackers, Vuniyayawa, Watkins, Wright, Atkin (T). Subs: Sidlow, Dupree, Stone. Addy. 18th Man: Bourouh.
Wakefield Trinity: Kay, Kershaw, Lyne (T), Hall (T), Taufua, Smith, Lino (2G, DG), Atoni, Hood, Whitbread, Pitts, Ashurst, Crowther. Subs: Battye, Eseh, Bowes, Hewitt. 18th Man: Butterworth.
Half-Time: 12-10.
Full-Time: 13-12. After Golden Point: 14-13.
Score Progression: 4-0, 6-0, 6-4, 6-6, 6-10, 10-10, 12-10 : HT : 12-12, 13-12, 13-13 : FT : 14-13 : GP.
Lead Exchanges: Salford - Square – Wakefield – Square – Salford – Square - Salford – Square - Salford.
Referee: Tom Grant.
