Warrington Wolves 22 Salford City Reds 34

A SECOND half Wolves collapse handed Salford City Reds their first pre-season victory.

Warrington deserved their 16-6 half-time lead but it all went downhill after that as the players, fatigued by conditioning work in training this week, could not keep up with the pace in the second half.

Players were dropping off tackles and passes were dropped as concentration levels dropped.

However, the result was in doubt up until the 72nd minute when former Halifax full back Damian Gibson slid over in the sopping-wet conditions for the match-clinching try.

The positives for Warrington were the performances of prop forward Mark Hilton, outstanding with his driving runs, and 18-year-old debut centre Steve Maden, who scored the Wolves' best try of the game.

Other Warrington try scorers were Tommy O'Reilly, Dean Busby, Dale Cardoza and Darren Burns.

Salford had eight probable starters missing from their line-up - their three new Australians plus Andy Coley, Steve Blakeley, Malcolm Alker, Graham Holroyd and Mike Wainwright.

Missing from the Warrington squad were Nick Fozzard, Rob Smyth, Leroy Rivett, Paul Marquet, Paul Wood and John Hill.

Wolves: Tommy O'Reilly; Leon Felton, Steve Maden, David Kidwell, Kevin Crouthers; Sid Domic, Matt Rodwell; Mark Hilton, Mark Gleeson, Dale Laughton, Matt Sturm, Jerome Guisset, Dean Busby. Subs: Lee Briers, Paul Noone, Jon Clarke, Gary Hulse, Dale Cardoza, Dave Alstead, Lee Penny, Darren Burns.

Reds: Gary Broadbent; Nick Pinkney, Alan Hunte, Stuart Littler, Damian Gibson; Lee Marsh, Bobbie Goulding; Neil Baynes, Ian Watson, Paul Southern, Paul Highton, Warren Jowitt, Jason Nicol. Subs: Andy Gorski, Warren Stevens, Michael Hancock, Neil Baxter, John Clough.