KEVIN Brown’s try seven minutes from time killed off a spirited Salford Red Devils side as Warrington Wolves made it five wins on the trot.

The Wire led 14-0 after 22 minutes but a Robert Lui response for Salford breathed new life into the third game in eight days for two sides that showed their fatigue at times.

Wolves got off to a strong start, with their right edge of Toby King and Josh Charnley looking particularly threatening.

King put Charnley away and accepted the return pass for the opening try in the fourth minute.

Then Charnley walked over from 20m after Stefan Ratchford’s looping pass rewarded super approach play from Daryl Clark for 8-0 after 12 minutes.

King palmed back a Roberts high kick that Salford allowed to bounce and the Aussie half back was in place to regather and go over unopposed from 20 metres for his first try in Wire colours, with Ratchford adding his first conversion of the afternoon.


 

Salford improved as the half wore on and Robert Lui was missed by Ben Currie after charging on to a smart inside pass from Weller Hauraki to give the hosts fresh life 12 minutes before the break. Lui also converted.

The second half became a tense battle, with Salford needing a score to stay in the hunt and Wire needing one to finish off the hosts.

Salford did most of the pressing and their best chance came and went when Derrell Olpherts fumbled a tricky Lui grubber at his feet by the corner post.

Ryan Atkins, a first-half replacement for King, went close from a kick after winning the aerial battle but landed inches short.

In the end, as both sides tired, it was a change of direction from Jack Hughes that allowed Ratchford to step away from one defender and fire Brown home for the winning try.

Ratchford converted and added a late penalty to wrap up the scoring.

Red Devils: Rob Lui; Derrell Olpherts, Junior Sa’u, Kris Welham, Jake Bibby; Jake Shorrocks, Jack Littlejohn; Lee Mossop, Josh Wood, Craig Kopczak, Josh Jones, Weller Hauraki, Mark Flanagan. Subs: Ryan Lannon, Ben Nakubuwai, Lama Tasi, Luke Burgess.

Wolves: Stefan Ratchford; Josh Charnley, Toby King, Bryson Goodwin, Tom Lineham; Kevin Brown, Tyrone Roberts; Chris Hill, Daryl Clark, Mike Cooper, Jack Hughes, Ben Currie, Ben Westwood. Subs: Ryan Atkins, Joe Philbin, Dom Crosby, Sita Akauola.