Trinity drop out of top four

SALFORD were the big winners on the final day of the regular Betfred Super League season after Wakefield went down 41-16 at home to St Helens to drop out of the top four.

Trinity had the chance to enter the Super 8s by securing third place but they were out-played by an impressive Saints outfit who kept alive their own semi-final bid with a fifth successive win at Belle Vue and only a second away win in the league in 2017.

The outcome means that Salford end the 23-game season in fourth place, their highest regular-season finish since 1976, despite a 25-0 loss to struggling Leigh Centurions on Friday.

A 14-point loss would have been enough for fourth place, but Wakefield trailed 24-6 at half-time after four Saints tries, including one from James Roby.

Scott Grix and Mason CatonBrown went over to make it 28-16 and put Trinity above Salford on points difference.

But Louie McCarthy-Scarsbrook and Zeb Taia scored and a late Danny Richardson drop goal extended St Helens’ margin of victory.

Richardson had earlier begun the scoring with the first try of the match, and that was followed by further Saints tries from Roby, Tommy Makinson and Regan Grace - with Matty Ashurt replying for the hosts.

And despite a brief fightback from Wakefield, Justin Holbrook’s side pulled further away to firm up their position in sixth. .................................................... P .......................... 23 .................................... 23 ........................................ 23 ................................. 23 ............................ 23 ............................ 23 .................................... 23 ................ 23 ......................... 23 ........... 23 ..................................... 23 ................................. 23 .................................................... P ................................. 23 .............. 23 ................................. 23 .................... 23 ............................. 23 ................................... 23 ............................. 23 ........................... 23 ............................. 23 ............................... 23 ................................ 23 .............................. 23