SUPER LEAGUE ACTION SPECIAL
SALFORD skipper Harrison Hansen bagged his first tries of the season to make it a dismal start for new Wakefield boss Brian Smith.
Hansen struck twice as the Wildcats slumped to their 15th Super League defeat in a row in a dour basement battle.
It was a crucial win for the Red Devils, who kept alive their top eight hopes after eight successive losses.
Relieved coach Iestyn Harris said: “Harrison led by example, but it was a painfully slow game and very frustrating on a terrible surface.”
Wakefield improved in the second half after trailing 18-6 at the break and were unlucky to have a Chris Riley try disallowed.
Smith, the ex-Bradford and Hull boss, said: “We had chances to win but couldn’t muster the quality we needed.”
Theo Fages put Salford on their way with the opening try after a storming run by Niall Evalds with Scott Taylor also crossing.
Wakefield, who notched their first try through the impressive Daniel Smith, grabbed other touchdowns from Ian Kirke and skipper Danny Kirmond. HULL KR boss Chris Chester faces an anxious wait to discover the full extent of Josh Mantellato’s game-ending injury.
The Aussie ace added 14 more points to his total before being carried off with his neck in a brace after a lengthy second-half stoppage.
“We are confident it is not too serious, but he has gone for an X-ray,” said Chester of Super League’s leading points scorer in 2015.
“There is no point whinging about it and I would rather talk of the effort of the guys, that was first class.”
Mantellato’s injury overshadowed an excellent hat-trick from his wing twin Ken Sio.
Rovers led 26-10 at the break thanks to Mantellato’s brace and three goals plus further touchdowns from Kris Pelham, Albert Kelly and Sio.
“Rovers all dug in and fought like a team that was desperate,” said Widnes boss Denis Betts. HULL KR’S Aussie stand-off Terry Campese will undergo more tests in London tomorrow on a knee injury.
The 19-year-old son of former Bradford star Roger Simpson produced the turning point of the game in the 59th minute.
He threw himself at Gareth O’Brien to stop the Wolves halfback from scoring a try that would have put them 11 points ahead.
The try-saving moment gave Huddersfield the fire in their bellies to then turn the screw on Warrington in ruthless style.
Jermaine McGillvary pounced for two tries and Simpson added another as they rattled up 18 unanswered points.
Delighted boss Paul Anderson said: “I had to pick him and he has given himself another opportunity for next week.
“We got into them after halftime – that’s a big win.”
Victory lifts Huddersfield up to fourth and leaves Warrington in sixth and looking over their shoulders at the chasing pack.
Coach Tony Smith said: “We are down on troops, but that is no excuse and we should be able to
However, Huddersfield, who had hung in with tries from Jake Connor and Jodie Broughton, then took control.
The game was marred by four sin bins for fighting – Danny Brough and Connor for the Giants and Anthony England and Clark for the visitors.
Smith added: “There was a bad vibe and I had abuse up in the stand. It is not nice and it is not what our game is about.”