Salford 24-34 Wakefield: Mason Caton-Brown hat-trick helps seal victory
Last Updated: 04/06/17 6:01pm
Former Salford winger Mason Caton-Brown scored a hat-trick against his old club as Wakefield Trinity ended the Red Devils' seven-match winning run with a dramatic 34-24 victory at the AJ Bell Stadium.
Caton-Brown's third try three minutes from the end proved the decisive score in a frenetic finish after Salford themselves had fought back to lead 24-22 having trailed 16-0.
Wakefield then sealed their seventh straight triumph with a last-minute score from second rower James Batchelor to move joint third in the Betfred Super League table.
The visitors made the better start with a try in the sixth minute as Caton-Brown raced 70 metres to score after Ashley Gibson scooped up a loose pass and sent it to the left edge. Liam Finn added the conversion to give the visitors a 6-0 lead.
Salford enjoyed plenty of pressure and forced Wakefield to drop out twice in quick succession. Michael Dobson's kick through to the Wakefield in-goal was also narrowly missed by winger Niall Evalds.
But the visitors extended their lead in the 23rd minute with a try that bore many similarities to the first. Sam Williams and Finn linked well to put centre Reece Lyne clear and he sprinted 80 metres to score, just evading a valiant chase from Salford's Ben Murdoch-Masila.
Wakefield scored a third try six minutes before half-time when Lyne went in for his second try after taking the pass from Max Jowitt following good approach play from Williams. Finn's touchline conversion made it 16-0.
But Salford gave themselves a lifeline with a try just before half-time. Gareth O'Brien's pass to the wing saw Jake Bibby score in the corner and Dobson added the extras from touch.
Ian Watson's side kept the momentum going after the restart, scoring a second try in the 51st minute when prop Craig Kopczak barged over from close range and Dobson's conversion meant Wakefield's lead had been cut to just four.
And when Todd Carney's perfectly placed 40-20 kick gave Salford a scrum in a dangerous position, there was an air of inevitability as they loaded the right side on the next play and the Australian's pass sent Bibby over in the corner for his second try. Dobson again converted from touch to make it 18-16 to the home side.
Having been forced to defend for so much of the half, Wakefield got a rare chance to attack the Salford try-line 15 minutes from time after forcing an error to earn a scrum.
The ball was quickly moved to the left and Caton-Brown produced a flying finish for his second touchdown, with Finn adding the extras.
Wakefield's lead lasted eight minutes as Salford replied through prop Lama Tasi, who charged his way over from close range for a try which Dobson converted to give the home side a 24-22 lead.
Just as it looked like Salford were going to hang on for victory, Wakefield produced a late fightback with Caton-Brown notching his treble with three minutes remaining and Finn's goal made it 28-24.
With time almost up, Wakefield confirmed victory with Batchelor charging through for a try which Finn converted.
