Welcome win for Wildcats

Wakefield held off a stern Salford figthback to claim a first win in five in the Stobart Super League against their fellow strugglers.

The hosts enjoyed a dominant first half but the game changed in the second 40 minutes with the reds in control, but they could not complete the comeback as they went down 26-22 for a fourth straight defeat.

Acting captain Danny Kirmond and front-rower Oliver Wilkes were outstanding as Wakefield raced out of the blocks, scoring two tries in the first six minutes, and they had also two others disallowed inside the opening quarter.

Loose forward Danny Washbrook combined with stand-off Isaac John to get impressive centre Dean Collis over for the first and then took scrum-half Tim Smith's inside pass to go over himself.

As the visitors struggled to get a foothold in the contest, Wildcats hooker Paul Aiton picked up his own grubber kick only for video referee Ben Thaler to rule a knock-on and Kirmond was denied a try for a forward pass.

Near miss

Prop Andy Raleigh became the fifth Wakefield player to cross the line but he was held on his back and the misses began to look costly when Salford scored a breakaway try.

Winger Ashley Gibson collected Smith's towering kick meant for Ben Cockayne 10 metres from his own line and raced upfield before sending the supporting Daniel Holdsworth over.

Holdsworth added the goal to cut the deficit to six points but Wakefield re-asserted their authority with two further tries in the last 10 minutes of the first half.

Second-rower Frankie Mariano crashed over for his first try of the season and a superb one-handed pass from Collis got winger Peter Fox over for the Wildcats' fourth try.

Paul Sykes' third goal made it 22-6 at the break but Salford livened up in the second half, particularly following the introduction of back rower Chris Nero, who scored their second try after being put through a gap by Holdsworth.

Holdsworth's second goal reduced the gap to 10 points but Sykes put the home side two scores in front with penalties on 64 and 71 minutes.

The Reds would have scored had centre Joel Moon been able to gather Holdsworth's high kick but the ball slipped through his grasp with the line beckoning, while Collis came up with crucial tackle to haul down dangerous winger Jodie Broughton.

Salford saved their best rugby for the last five minutes, with Gibson going over for two tries in two minutes, and they would have snatched an unlikely victory had second rower Matty Ashurst been able to take Moon's pass with the line open.