WARRIORS’ DERBY JOY
Wigan keep Grand Final dreams alive – and knock Saints’ hopes
SURPRISE packets Wakefield Wildcats consolidated fourth spot with Aussie new boy Tyler Randell bagging a brace of tries.
But Salford’s demoralising eighth defeat in a row virtually ends their play-off hopes.
Jacob Miller, making only his third appearance since returning from a broken ankle, also scored two tries and a late drop goal with Liam Finn booting nine goals from nine attempts.
Randell, snapped up from Newcastle Knights on a two-year contract, capped an outstanding debut with two sparkling individual efforts.
Salford went ahead with an early Craig Kopczak try but Wakefield rallied to lead 22-12 at the break with prop Anthony England in blockbusting form.
Miller (above) crossed twice from kicks with Gareth O’Brien at fault for his second effort.
Salford never looked like repeating their quarter-final cup win over the Cats, who ran in six tries. GREG EDEN haunted his old club as the League Leaders’ Shield winners returned to action with a victory.
The former Giants winger touched down for his 36th league try of the campaign then set-up a match-clinching effort for Luke Gale.
England half-back Gale passed 300 points for the season with his try and four goals. But it needed a half-time rocket from coach Daryl Powell to put the Tigers back on track.
Huddersfield came from 6-0 down to lead 12-6 at the break with Tigers a shadow of the side that had won 22 of their previous 26 league games.
Unsung pack stars Oliver Roberts (above) and Paul Clough crashed over with Jordan Rankin landing two goals.
But it was a different story after the interval. Ben Roberts waltzed over unopposed to begin the fightback within three minutes of the resumption.
Jake Webster scored Cas’s other try. Darnell McIntosh touched down for the Giants, but Rankin missed the extras.