Wigan 30-0 Salford: Warriors brush Red Devils aside in Super League
By PA Sport
Last Updated: 05/05/18 8:16am
Sam Tomkins scored two tries as Wigan kept Salford scoreless in a 30-0 victory to keep the pressure on leaders St Helens at the top of the Betfred Super League.
In a one-sided game, the Warriors remained patient and took their chances against a very tired Salford outfit as they ran in three unanswered tries inside the opening 40 minutes.
Oliver Gildart crossed for the opening try for the fourth game in a row, while further tries from Tony Clubb and George Williams ensured they held a comfortable 18-0 lead at the break.
Salford were forced to make several changes due to injury, but they were never in this game and Wigan took full advantage to make it six Super League wins in succession.
Tomkins turned on the style in the second period as the Warriors again had the lion's share of possession.
He managed to cross twice in the space of 10 minutes with Salford very rarely making it into Wigan's own 20, with John Bateman crossing for Wigan's sixth try to round off a good night for Shaun Wane's men.
Wigan blew a great chance to take the lead inside the opening five minutes as Liam Marshall knocked on with the line at his mercy following a great break from Williams.
The Warriors wasted another good chance moments later as Willie Isa went down the short side and was forced into touch thanks to a big hit from Derrell Olpherts and Jake Bibby.
Wigan dominated possession in the first half and really made the Red Devils work hard in defence.
It was only in the 22nd minute they broke the deadlock, but it was worth the wait. Gildart scooted from the play-the-ball just inside his own half before gliding past Olpherts to score.
Moments later, the Warriors were in again as the Red Devils coughed up possession and Clubb took a short ball from Marshall to crash over for a deserved 12-0 lead.
The visitors were finding it increasingly difficult to mount any real attack and the Warriors made them pay with Williams going over, Tomkins converting to give them a comfortable half-time advantage.
Wigan continued to throw everything at Salford after the break with Ryan Sutton going close, before Sam Powell had a try chalked off for a double movement.
It was all one-way traffic and Tomkins got the try his performance deserved in the 57th minute as he used all his strength to go over from close range.
Wigan were determined to keep the Red Devils scoreless and that showed when Thomas Leuluai stormed out of the defensive line and put a big hit on Daniel Murray, which saw the loose forward spill possession while trying to get up and play the ball.
Tomkins was then on hand 10 minutes later to grab his second try of the night to put the game to bed, while Bateman had the final say with a try in the final five minutes.
Tomkins failed to add any of the extras to the three second-half tries but that did not matter as Wigan ran out convincing winners.
