Salford Red Devils picked up a stunning Super League victory away at Warrington Wolves on Friday, winning 25-12 for just their third victory of the campaign.
Salford, beleaguered by financial issues this season and having lost 21 from 23 league fixtures coming into the match, scored four tries on the night at the Halliwell Jones Stadium through Jack Darbyshire, Justin Sangare (two) and Tiaki Chan, with Rowan Milnes adding all four conversions and a drop-goal.
Crisis-riddled Salford defied uncertainty over their existence to pull off the win, with the club facing a winding-up hearing next week. Their cobbled-together starting 13 featured seven loan players.
Sam Burgess’ Warrington scored through Matt Dufty and Jake Thewlis tries, but fell to an embarrassing defeat as Adam Holroyd was sin-binned during the second period. Wolves were booed off the pitch, with their play-off hopes in tatters.
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Justin Sangare (second from right) scored twice as Salford pulled off a shock Super League win at Warrington
Salford were unable to fulfil one fixture this month and were thrashed 80-6 in another, having been hit by a raft of player departures.
Such is the unfamiliarity of their side, seven players wore a shirt number of 64 or higher, but they responded well to their passionate fans.
It had looked like another hammering could be on the cards when Wire opened the scoring after just three minutes.
Dufty, restored by coach Sam Burgess after a recent disciplinary breach, carved his way through lacklustre defence to touch down.
Yet the Wolves, who had overcome a difficult start when 20-year-old debutant Ewan Smith was forced off with a head injury in the first minute, failed to build on their fine start.
Much to the credit of coach Paul Rowley, Salford settled and looked a far more coherent team than had been widely anticipated.
They forced Warrington to backpedal when one of their latest batch of short-term signings, Jack Walker, burst through the middle.
The hosts were forced to drop-out from under their own posts and moments later Darbyshire, recently drafted in from Leigh, ducked under a challenge to score.
Warrington then failed to deal with a high kick just after the half-hour mark and the ball ran loose for Sangare. The forward could hardly believe his luck as Wire stood off him anticipating a pass, allowing him a clear run to the line.
Burgess’ half-time team talk looked to have done the trick as Warrington hit back straight after the break.
Leon Hayes, playing his first match in 16 months after injury, flighted a kick to the corner and Thewlis touched down. Brother Josh added his second conversion.
Salford, however, refused to buckle and regained the lead as they produced a fluent handling move and Sangare powered through some weak tackling to claim his second.
Things got worse for Warrington when Adam Holroyd was sent to the sin bin following a poor challenge on Nathan Connell.
Salford took advantage of the extra man to increase their lead as they moved downfield following a penalty and Wigan loanee Chan crashed over from close range.
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Tiaki Chan celebrates scoring Salford’s fourth try at Warrington to all but secure victory
Milnes, on loan from Hull KR, put the result beyond doubt with a one-pointer.
Hull KR 12-8 St Helens
Hull KR’s biggest crowd since 1984 saw the Super League table-toppers nudge closer to securing the League Leaders’ Shield after a hard-earned win over St Helens at Craven Park.
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Highlights of the Super League clash between Hull KR and St Helens
Four Rhyse Martin penalties and a second-half Joe Burgess try sealed a win in front of 12,169 fans which sets them up to potentially confirm first place with victory in next Sunday’s derby at home to Hull FC.
Rovers held the upper hand in a forgettable encounter, but did not manage to shake off their dogged opponents until Mikey Lewis’s inch-perfect kick set up the play which sent Burgess soaring over 12 minutes from time.
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Saints, meanwhile, face a further setback with Morgan Knowles ruled out of next Friday’s derby with Wigan after failing a first-half head injury assessment, and George Delaney’s yellow card leaving the forward on the brink of a ban.
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