AS the saying goes in sport, you can only fight what is in front of you.

Fortunately for Wolves on Sunday, they were up against the rugby league equivalent of Audley Harrison.

Predictably, the Challenge Cup holders delivered a first round knockdown from which Salford never recovered, with a three-try blitz inside five first-half minutes effectively ending the game as a contest after only 20 minutes.

There are plenty of positive adjectives you could use to describe yet another strong performance from the men in primrose and blue.

Incisive, intelligent, resolute are all applicable, but the most fitting seems to be determined, as Wolves tried very hard indeed to keep their opponents scoreless.

It was not to be once a Jodie Broughton consolation try blotted Wolves’ otherwise impeccable copybook, but all the same it was another demonstration in how to use rock-solid defence to throw your opponents off their game.

Much like in Huddersfield a week earlier, where tempers flared and punches were thrown, Salford’s frustration at their inability to break Wolves down played into the hands of the hosts.

Penalties for Salford’s ill-discipline helped Warrington maintain steady pressure, though it may be the case that Reds were simply frustrated by their own inability to defend their line.

Some of Wolves’ tries, particularly in that crucial first 20 minutes, had Salford’s new coach Brian Noble gesticulating wildly in his seat, which was situated next to The Halliwell Jones press box.

New owner Dr Marwan Koukash simply looked on dejected, resigned to his side’s fate.

It is open knowledge that Salford covet the signature of former star Stefan Ratchford, who underlined his quality with a brace of tries, but it will take even grander changes than that if Reds are to become realistic challengers.

The icing on the cake was the return of Lee Briers, who marked his comeback from a three-month absence with a wonderful try with almost his first touch of the game.

Briers showed a real delight at being back on the pitch again, and you sense that his teammates, too, are starting to relish the challenge of bigger games to come.

 

 

INTERESTING NOTES

Sunday’s attendance of 5,451 was the lowest at The Halliwell Jones Stadium since the Challenge Cup fifth round match against Swinton Lions in May, 2011.

Lee Briers needs one try to register 150 touchdowns for Warrington, with the club’s all-time leading pointscorer having scored 149 in 409 games since 1997.

Ben Westwood needs one try to reach 100 for Warrington, touching down 99 times in 296 games since 2002.

Wolves have not lost to Hull FC since the 24-10 defeat at The Halliwell Jones Stadium in April, 2011.

 

 

Challenge Cup Round Five
Sunday, May 12, 2013

Warrington Wolves...52
Salford City Reds...6

Wolves: Brett Hodgson; Joel Monaghan, Simon Grix, Ryan Atkins, Chris Riley; Stefan Ratchford, Richie Myler; Paul Wood, Micky Higham, Chris Hill, Trent Waterhouse, Ben Westwood, Mike Cooper. Subs: Lee Briers, Garreth Carvell, Ben Currie, Glenn Riley.

Salford: Marc Sneyd; Ashley Gibson, Martin Gleeson, Lee Gaskell, Jodie Broughton; Ryan McGoldrick, Theo Fages; Darrell Griffin, Wayne Godwin, Adam Walne, Matty Ashurst, Andrew Dixon, Stephen Wild. Subs: Jake Emmitt, Liam Foran, Jordan James, Chris Nero.

Scoring: Hill try, 11mins, Hodgson goal, 6-0; Monaghan try, 13mins, Hodgson goal, 12-0; Hodgson try, 16mins, Hodgson goal, 18-0; Ratchford try, 27mins, Hodgson goal, 24-0; Higham try, 44mins, Hodgson goal, 30-0; Briers try, 47mins, Hodgson goal, 36-0; Ratchford try, 51mins, Hodgson goal, 42-0; Broughton try, 65mins, Gaskell goal, 42-6; Monaghan try, 69mins, 46-6; Wood try, 76mins, Briers goal, 52-6.

Pens: Wolves 8 Reds 7
Referee: Robert Hicks
Attendence: 5,451
Top Man: Brett Hodgson