Salford too strong for Wakefield

Salford too strong for Wakefield

Winger Tony Stewart claimed his first hat-trick of the season as Salford all but secured their Super League status with a stunning home win by 37-0 against Wakefield.

The City Reds ended their four-game losing streak to move level on points with Wakefield and, as a result, Widnes will follow Leigh through the relegation trapdoor should they lose to Cheshire rivals Warrington on Sunday.

Stewart showed brilliant finishing skills in the second half while scrum-half Luke Robinson maintained his record of touching down every time Salford have squared up to Wakefield this season.

Former Wigan ace Robinson also knocked over a drop-goal and set up a close-range try for prop Andy Coley.

Full-back Karl Fitzpatrick scampered over late on and pulled off two sensational try-saving tackles while loose-forward Chris Charles boasted a 100% record with the boot.

But it was Salford?s stonewall defence which will have most pleased head coach Karl Harrison.

They went into every tackle as though their careers depended on it and thoroughly deserved to keep their first clean sheet of the season.

Wakefield, on the other hand, produced another abject performance, following on from last week?s 60-4 mauling at St Helens.

Their fans will have expected them to have put up much more of a fight against a Salford side which began the game below them in the table.

But Wakefield had the look of a side who are counting the days until the end of the season and they provided easy pickings for a pumped-up Salford team.

Salford: Fitzpatrick, Langi, Stewart, Littler, Hodgson, Beverley, Robinson, Coley, Alker, Highton, Sibbit, Brocklehurst, Charles.

Replacements: Clough, Haggerty, Baldwin, McAvoy.

Wakefield: Halpenny, Wainwright, Domic, Henderson, Tadulala, Jeffries, Obst, Griffin, March, Korkidas, MacGillivray, Solomona, J. Field.

Replacements: Elima, Spicer, Wrench, Feather.

Salford (12) 37. Tries: Coley, Robinson, Stewart 3, Fitzpatrick. Goals: Charles 6. Drop Goals: Robinson.

Wakefield (0) 0.

Referee: Ronnie Laughton (Barnsley)

Att: 3,005

Thanks to www.superleague.co.uk for the above review