On his seventh anniversary as Warrington Wolves head coach, Tony Smith has enjoyed few more remarkable nights. His side were 30-12 down after an hour but far from out as they climbed to the top of the First Utility Super League.
Three converted tries in seven minutes, including a brace by Ryan Atkins, eked what had appeared to be a draw. With one last swing of the boot, Chris Sandow landed a 42-metre dropped goal to sneak the win, moments after the Australian scrum half had miscued a long range penalty.
It has taken several incarnations under the ownership of Marwan Koukash, but Salford do appear to have a team capable of challenging in the higher reaches of the table this season.
Gareth O’Brien emerged from Warrington’s academy, but the 24-year-old opted out of the final year of his contract to sign for Salford this season, whose switch of the goalkicking half back to full back continues to pay dividends. O’Brien’s composure under the high ball, astute tactical kicking and creative vision, in harness with the flourishing partnership of Robert Lui and Michael Dobson in the halves, all undermined startled Wolves, who trailed 28-12 at the break.
Salford’s new-found gusto was translated into an indefatigable try by Junior Sa’u after two minutes before Warrington second row forwards, Ben Currie and Jack Hughes, both plundered quickfire tries with ease.
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But Warrington succumbed four more times before the interval. Dobson’s cultured boot created scores for Josh Jones, Sa’u and Greg Johnson exploited more flimsy tackling before Josh Griffin forced the ball down.
O’Brien’s fourth goal took Salford 18 points clear before Currie was sent to the sin-bin and Justin Carney, the Salford wing, followed.
The comeback began with Sandow unleashing Atkins for his 100th league try. His 101st followed as the centre reached back to ground Sandow’s pin-point grubber. Sandow improbably drew Warrington level, converting Ashton Sims’ try after the strapping Fiji prop supported Chris Hill’s break, before his one-point winner.
Scorers: Salford Red Devils: Tries: Sa’u 2, Jones, Johnson, J Griffin. Goals: Dobson 4, O’Brien. Warrington Wolves: Tries: Hughes, Currie, Atkins 2, Sims. Goals: Sandow 5. Dropped goal: Sandow.
Salford Red Devils: G O’Brien; J Carney, J Sa’u, J Griffin, G Johnson; R Lui, M Dobson; C Kopczak, T Lee, G Griffin, M Murdoch-Masila, J Jones, M Flanagan. Interchange: N Evalds, A Walne, L Tomkins, J Walne.
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Warrington Wolves: M Russell; K Penny, R Evans, R Atkins, T Lineham; S Ratchford, C Sandow; C Hill, B Dwyer, A Sims, B Currie, J Hughes, J Westerman. Interchange: M Dodds, G King, B Julien, G Wheeler.
Referee: R Hicks.