Salford's revival leaves Wakefield facing drop

Salford 42 Wakefield Trinity 18

Salford continued their revival under new coach Karl Harrison, moving off the bottom of Super League with a convincing victory that leaves Wakefield two points adrift and facing an uphill battle to preserve their top-flight status.

In his first five weeks in charge at The Willows, Harrison has quickly revitalised the fortunes of a Reds side that appeared to be sliding forlornly towards relegation. After last week's win at Widnes ended a 10-match losing run, the Reds again dominated from the start despite lacking the services of their injured captain, Bobbie Goulding.

Goulding's deputy, Ian Watson, made an immediate impact, cutting between two defenders to supply Danny Arnold with an opening try inside the first two minutes. In Salford's next attack, Watson jinked over for a second converted try after Stuart Littler beat Phil Hassan to a testing high kick by Graham Holroyd.

Wakefield responded with a try to Troy Slattery, sent over by captain Brad Davis in the visitors' first incursion into home territory, but Harrison's side looked in no mood to let slip their early advantage. Veteran winger Alan Hunte anticipated a floated Martin Moana pass and held off the challenge of the pursuing Andrew Frew to notch a spectacular 80-metre interception try.

Holroyd kicked his third goal and then supplied a superb pass to the wing for Littler to walk-in at the corner and send Salford in with a 22-6 lead at the interval.

Wakefield, with only one win now in their last 11 games, needed to score first at the start of the second half to get back in the contest. Instead Salford enjoyed a stroke of much-needed luck as Watson's drop-goal attempt cannoned off a defender into the arms of Paul Southern, who had only to fall over the line. Holroyd and Watson then combined sweetly to send the Australian Darren Treacy striding over.

Wakefield showed a vast improvement in the closing stages with tries from Slattery and Gareth Ellis, but it was too little, too late.

Paul Highton completed Salford's unexpectedly comfortable win with Holroyd adding his seventh goal from eight attempts.

"The result was the most important thing," said Harrison. "But we dominated for long periods and scored some smart tries. Watson was outstanding and Holroyd played very smart."

Peter Roe, the Wakefield coach, reflected: "We made a nightmare start and the nightmare went into a bad dream. It is cause for concern how we played today and I am determined to turn it around."

Salford: Gibson; Hunte, Nicol, Littler, Arnold; Holroyd, Watson; Baynes, Alker, P Highton, Ebrill, Treacy, Wainwright. Substitutes used: Jowitt, Southern, Coley, Blakeley.

Wakefield Trinity: Holland; Hassan, Tassell, Ellis, Frew; Moana, Davis; Keating, March, Jackson, Field, Slattery, G Law. Substitutes used: Haughey, Feather, Bird, Broadbent.

Referee: I Smith (Oldham).