Reds stun Wolves

Patten: Try-scorer for Salford

Salford scored a stunning 18-16 Super League victory at leaders Warrington on Sunday to end a run of five derby losses.

The home side had led 10-6 at the break despite playing into a strong wind but the Reds came good in the second half to notch their best win of the season.

Salford's year has been topsy-turvy to date, with the Wolves romping to a 60-0 win when the two sides met at the Willows in April.

But six Warrington stars - England's Chris Bridge, Richie Myler, Garreth Carvell, Ben Westwood and Adrian Morley, together with Exiles full-back Brett Hodgson - took to the pitch just two days after the Origin international at Leeds.

Louis Anderson was not able to face elder brother Vinnie once more, though, after being injured in the Exiles' victory, while Matt King was also absent after the birth of his daughter.

However, Warrington welcomed back Tyrone McCarthy following a loan spell at Leigh.

Salford, whose new boss Matt Parish arrives in mid-July, went into the clash buoyed by their 34-12 victory over Wakefield - which ended a run of three league and cup defeats.

Difficult

The visitors made an encouraging start but the Wolves would still have gone ahead in the eighth minute had Rhys Williams been able to take a difficult pass from Hodgson.

They took the lead three minutes later, though, when Chris Nero threw out a wild pass and Chris Bridge latched on to a Myler kick which eluded Luke Patten to score in the corner.

Incessant Warrington pressure almost brought another try, but Mark Henry was on hand for Salford to hold up Ryan Atkins over the line.

The Reds then scored with their first attack of note midway through the first half - Wayne Godwin and Daniel Holdsworth combining for Sean Gleeson to power through tackles by Myler and Atkins.

Skipper Holdsworth added the extras, meaning that Salford found themselves in possession of a shock 6-4 lead.

The visitors managed to keep it for just seven minutes, though, and after Myler was first held short, Lee Briers dummied and strolled through a big gap on the overlap with Hodgson converting.

Westwood might have been the pick of the Warrington side with forceful running and bone-jarring tackles but his side fell behind again early in the second half.

Salford snatched two tries in four minutes, with Patten taking Gleeson's pass to sprint 30 metres for a converted score.

Combined

Then Holdsworth and Patten combined to give Henry a walk-in at the corner, with Holdsworth adding the touchline conversion to make it 18-10.

It would have been even worse for Warrington had referee Ben Thaler not disallowed a Stefan Ratchford try.

Warrington, who lost Paul Wood with a leg injury nine minutes from time, predictably piled on the pressure in the closing moments but Salford's defence held firm.

Myler did cross in the 78th minute to cut the gap to two points but the Reds held out for a deserved victory.