Littler hat-trick helps Salford
hammer Wolves

Salford centre Stuart Littler raced over for a hat-trick of tries as the Reds returned to winning ways in emphatic fashion with a 42-10 victory over Warrington.

After winning two of their first three engage Super League matches, Karl Harrison?s side had found Hull, St Helens and Leeds too hot to handle.

But they found Warrington far more accommodating and recorded an impressive victory on the back of some formidable forward play and deadly finishing out wide.

Salford dominated the first half and led 18-4 at the break thanks to tries from Nathan McAvoy, Littler and David Hodgson, with only Henry Fa?afili replying for the visitors.

Warrington threatened to produce a fightback when Chris Bridge went over soon after the interval but two more tries for Littler and one each for Luke Robinson and Ian Sibbit ensured the Reds ran out easy winners.

Chris Charles, Stuart Dickens and Robinson shared the kicking duties and none missed as they landed seven out of seven conversions between them.

Salford started well but failed to capitalise on a great break from Malcolm Alker in the opening minutes while Warrington full-back Brent Grose coped well with a couple of tricky kicks.

But the home side?s pressure finally told in the 13th minute when Nathan McAvoy crashed over in the corner after a superb long pass from Robinson, Charles kicking a brilliant conversion from the touchline.

Five minutes later, Salford forward Andy Coley burst through the Warrington defence and split the ball back inside for Littler to go over under the posts, Charles again adding the extras.

Warrington had hardly been in the Salford half but they managed to hit back when winger Fa?afili showed his eye for a try by latching onto a Jon Clarke kick to score in the corner.

Lee Briers hit the post with his conversion attempt though and Salford?s defence held firm just after the half-hour mark as Clarke was held up inches short of the line.

Another break from the impressive Alker put Salford back on the attack but Hodgson could not quite go over after collecting his own kick through.

Five minutes from half-time however, the same combination did link up to extend the home side?s lead, as Alker burst through once more, drew the full-back and allowed Hodgson an easy run to the line.

Charles made it three from three and the Reds were almost in again as Alker broke through with Hodgson on his shoulder, only for a final ball to Charles to go to ground.

Warrington must have received some harsh words from coach Paul Cullen at the interval as they started the second half with a bang when Bridge sprinted over the try line.

Briers reduced the deficit to eight with the conversion and the Wolves looked to have scored again when Mike Wainwright crashed over only for referee Julian King to rule he had been held up over the line.

Salford had taken a while to settle back into their rhythm but they were back in control when some good work from Hodgson and Robinson paved the way for Littler's second try.

The rangy centre shrugged off two would-be tacklers to race over and Stuart Dickens assumed the kicking duties to make it 24-10.

The lead was up to 20 soon after when Alker sliced open the Warrington defence for the umpteenth time and put in Robinson to go in under the posts, Dickens afforded a second easy kick.

Another fine break from Coley set up Littler's third try and this time it was Robinson who maintained Salford's 100% kicking record.

Ian Sibbitt completed the rout with a try against his former club with just seconds left on the clock, Charles back on to kick another fine conversion.

Salford (18) 42.

Tries: McAvoy, Littler 3, Hodgson, Robinson, Sibbit. Goals: Charles 4, Dickens 2, Robinson.

Warrington (4) 10.

Tries: Faa?fili, Bridge. Goals: Briers.

Att: 6,004

Salford: Hodgson, McAvoy, Littler, Beverley, Stewart, McGuinness, Robinson, Rutgerson, Alker, Dickens, Sibbit, Coley, Charles.

Replacements: Brocklehurst, Haggerty, Stringer, Baldwin.

Warrington: Grose, Gaskell, Kohe-Love, M. Gleeson, Faa?fili, Briers, Bridge, Lima, M. Gleeson, Westwood, Swann, Clarke, Wainwright.

Replacements: Appo, P. Wood, Pickersgill, Bracek.

Referee: Julian King (St Helens)

Thanks to: http://www.superleague.co.uk for another excellent article.