Round 2
Wakefield Trinity Wildcats 29 d. Salford City Reds 10

2009 engage English Super League Index [Table] [Draw] [Player Stats] [Club Headlines]

Location: United Kingdom > National > First Grade Competition: engage English Super League

Wakefield continues promising start defeating Salford
Mon February 23, 2009
Source: www.superleague.co.uk

Wakefield Trinity Wildcats continued their promising start to the new engage Super League season after a first-half blitz saw off newcomers Salford City Reds at Belle Vue.

Tries from Damien Blanch, Oliver Wilkes and Ryan Atkins helped the Wildcats into a commanding 19-0 lead at the break after an insipid display by the Reds.

Salford caused more problems in the second half and rallied with a Stephen Myler try but Wakefield would not fold.

Atkins and Blanch killed off the game with tries in the last five minutes although Willie Talau grabbed a late Salford consolation.

It was a second win in three outings for the Wildcats and fired another shot at the critics who wrote off their chances this term.

The only downside for them was a another serious-looking injury, this time to Scott Grix, for their already threadbare squad.

Grix, who started at scrum-half, was helped from the field late in the first half with a leg problem.

Any further absence would see him join a casualty list that already included four other playmakers in Sam Obst, Jamie Rooney, Danny Brough and Tevita Leo-Latu before the game.

The Wildcats, after failing to score a try in last week's battling defeat to champions Leeds Rhinos, were soon in on the act this time.

They needed just two minutes to get off the mark as Ireland winger Blanch, celebrating becoming a father this weekend, gathered a Grix kick and powered over in the corner.

Tony Martin converted from the touchline and added a penalty from in front of the posts before the Wildcats claimed a superb second try after 17 minutes.

James Stosic burst through a gap from a fine Brad Drew pass and then stepped aside to send Wilkes under the posts.

Things soon got even worse for Salford as John Wilshere and Karl Fitzpatrick both failed to deal with a bobbling Martin kick to the corner.

Atkins took advantage of their uncertainty and dived in to add another four points.

Martin's two goals increased the lead further and Drew added another point with a drop goal just before the half-time hooter.

Having shown little attacking threat in the first half, Salford pressed early in the second but had little joy as Talau was bundled into touch.

Encouraged, they at last managed to get themselves onto the scoresheet with 47 minutes gone as the highly-rated Myler showed pace from 20 metres out to run over from Robbie Paul's pass.

They then enjoyed further pressure with four consecutive sets in the Wakefield half but the hosts this time held firm.

The Wildcats also enjoyed a stroke of luck when Ian Sibbit had a try ruled out for a Mark Henry offside after a bouncing Myler kick caused havoc.

Atkins ensured there would be no fightback when he pounced on a Martin kick five minutes from time.

Talau forced his way over in the corner for Salford but it was too little too late and Blanch rounded off the match with his second.

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