Salford 18-62 Warrington: Toby King celebrates new deal with brace of tries

Jake Mamo and Gareth Widdop also scored two tries for the Wolves but it was former Salford full-back Stefan Ratchford who took the individual spoils – scoring 26 points against his old club thanks to a try and 11 goals from as many attempts.

With Widdop and Ratchford in sensational form, Warrington scored three converted tries in the opening 11 minutes to take a grip on the game they never looked like surrendering.

Ratchford got the game’s first try with only two minutes played after superbly swapping passes with Josh Charnley.

Danny Walker scored Warrington’s second try but it was all down a fine break and dummy from Widdop which opened up the Salford defence. Ratchford kicked the goal to make it 12-0 with only seven minutes played.

Widdop created Warrington’s third try with a delicate attacking kick which was brilliantly picked up by Ben Currie and his pass found King in support to touch down.

Salford, agonisingly beaten by a late Jackson Hastings drop goal in their last game against Wigan on Saturday, grabbed an unlikely lifeline in a game which seemed in danger of slipping away from them in the 22nd minute.

Widdop’s kick through was scooped up by Ken Sio who raced almost the length of the pitch to score though Warrington prop Chris Hill deserves credit for trying to chase him down. Harvey Livett added the conversion.

Ratchford edged Warrington further in front with a penalty after a high shot by Seb Ikahihifo on King but Salford replied with a well-crafted try of their own seven minutes before half-time.

Morgan Escare’s well-timed pass was taken by Livett running a good line and he touched down against one of his former clubs before adding the extras himself to cut the deficit to only eight.

Yet on the stroke of half-time with Salford struggling to get back in defence, Jake Mamo got clear of a couple of attempted tackles and raced 40 metres to the try-line. Ratchford added his fifth goal to give Warrington a 26-12 half-time advantage.

Widdop, who could have counted himself unlucky not to have scored in the first half, got a try within two minutes of the restart.

Darcy Lussick knocked on and Widdop had the simple task of picking up the loose ball and racing to the tryline to touch down.

Lussick went some way to making amends as he scored a try in the 49th minute after taking Chris Atkin’s pass from short range and Livett added the goal. But Salford’s hopes disappeared altogether in the 52nd minute when they were reduced to 12 men after a high shot on Widdop by Escare.

Warrington made use of their extra man almost straight away as the ball was worked right to Mamo and he was able to squeeze in at the corner for his second try.

Salford were down to 11 men for four minutes following another yellow card, this time for Lussick after a high tackle.

King crossed for a second try on the hour mark while Chris Hill, Ben Currie and Widdop also scored as Salford, whose only Super League win this year came against bottom club Leigh, finished well beaten.