Dom Manfredi snatches victory for Wigan over Salford

Wigan tryscorer Dom Manfredi is tackled by Michael Dobson and Tommy Lee

Wigan winger Dom Manfredi scored four minutes from the end of a thrilling Super League clash to secure a 20-16 win and dash Salford's bid for a first-ever win at the DW Stadium.

The Red Devils, aiming for a third successive win to continue their impressive start to the season, clawed their way back from 16-2 down early in the second half to draw level but Wigan had the final say to maintain their 100 per cent record.

The Warriors battled hard in their bid to bounce back from their 42-12 mauling by Brisbane in the World Club Series but it is Salford who will be kicking themselves for letting a glorious opportunity slip from their grasp.

The visitors demonstrated their danger early on with a break from lively stand-off Robert Lui, which set up the position for the visitors to take the lead with a penalty goal from Gareth O'Brien. But it lasted only three minutes as winger Oliver Gildart began to make his mark on the game.

Centre Anthony Gelling moved the ball wide on a free play after Salford had knocked on deep inside their own half and the left winger accepted George Williams' long pass to cross at the corner for the first of his two tries.

Oliver Gildart scores the first of his two first-half tries

Gildart then saved a try at the other end by intercepting O'Brien's pass before coming up with another set of sidesteps to finish off a sweeping move initiated by the impressive Gelling on halfway.

This time Matty Smith added the difficult conversion to make it 10-2 and Wigan also had tries from winger Dom Manfredi and forward Taulima Tautai disallowed by referee George Stokes.

However, the score flattered the home side, who were grateful to Lewis Tierney for keeping them in front.

Tierney was also impressive on attack and he provided the pass that enabled Gelling to score the Warriors' third try three minutes into the second half.

Anthony Gelling touches down for Wigan's third try

Smith's second goal made it 16-2 and looked to have secured the points.

However, Wigan had to work overtime in defence to keep their line intact and it was nothing less than they deserved when Junior Sa'u got a touch to Michael Dobson's grubber kick on 56 minutes to score their first try which set their fightback in motion.

The game was wide open 10 minutes later when centre Josh Griffin forced his way over out wide, although O'Brien was again unable to add the conversion.

Then second rower Ben Murdoch-Masila crashed onto Lui's short pass to score his first try in Super League and Griffin took over the goalkicking to tie the scores at 16-16.

A draw might have been a fair result but Gelling had other ideas and he managed to squeeze out a pass for Manfredi to cross at the corner with inches to spare.