Warrington Wolves 42 Salford City Reds 6.

IT is a sure sign of a star when a player can be quiet for 60 minutes yet still send everyone home talking about him.

Wolves were already on their way to back-to-back wins for only the second time this season when Kevin Penny made his mark with a nine-minute hat-trick on Sunday.

Paul Cullen's men were easing home in comfortable rather than spectacular fashion until Penny added the spark that produced an electric finish to the match.

Fast becoming the darling of the fans because of his exciting wing play and Warrington roots, the youngster raced down the touchline from Henry Fa'afili's pass to score his first home try for the senior team in the 65th minute.

That was followed by a simpler effort after being fed by Brent Grose four minutes later.

And, even though Wolves led 28 points with six minutes remaining, the roof almost came off when Penny completed his hat-trick with a try of the season contender.

It came from a kick-chase move that was employed to good effect when Richie Barnett scored against Castleford last year, but not even Barnett's pace could match that displayed by Penny.

Lee Briers kicked from a scrum deep inside Wolves' half and rocket-heeled Penny hared after it.

He made up an absurd amount of metres on pre-race favourites Kevin McGuinness and John Wilshere - both flailing like stray wildebeest being pursued by a lion - before utilising the skills that made him the school football captain by stabbing the ball forward and touching down.

"I got the call off Briersy to say he was going to kick to me off the scrum, so I just had to time my run from that," said Penny.

"I set off and I could see Kevin McGuinness. I did think he was going to get before me but as I got closer I thought, If I can stick a leg out and get it on the ball, I think I'll go over here'. It was just a case of bringing my football skills back and putting it down."

Chris Bridge was at the heart of the first-half play that decided the match in Wolves' favour, while Adrian Morley was immense in the pack.

Wolves were able to name the strongest side they had fielded all season - with squad numbers one to 13 all available for selection for the first time - and it showed.

They lost Michael Sullivan, Paul Johnson and Vinnie Anderson to injury during the match but still had far too much quality and confidence to be troubled by relegation-threatened Salford.

Shaun McRae's honeymoon period appeared to be over as City Reds were booed off by their own fans.

Wolves are showing signs that those days could be behind them this season.

The feel good factor is back, thanks in no small part to a 19-year-old from Howley.

Warrington Wolves 42 Salford City Reds 6

Wolves: Brent Grose; Stuart Reardon, Martin Gleeson (1t), Paul Johnson, Kevin Penny (3t); Chris Bridge, Lee Briers (1t, 3g); Paul Wood, Jon Clarke (2t), Paul Rauhihi, Ben Westwood (1t), Adrian Morley, Vinnie Anderson. Subs used: Chris Leikvoll, Michael Sullivan, Henry Fa'afili (1t), Rob Parker.

City Reds: John Wilshere (1g); Stuart Littler, Kevin McGuinness, Aaron Moule, Gray Viane; Luke Dorn (1t), Luke Robinson; Andy Coley, Malcolm Alker, Michael Korkidas, Mark Edmondson, Ian Sibbit, Simon Finnigan. Subs used: Andrew Brocklehurst, Gareth Haggerty, David Gower, Jordan Turner.

Referee: Richard Silverwood

Scoring: Bridge capitalises on Finnigan's slip to surge through and feed the supporting Clarke, 2mins, Briers converts, 6-0; Dorn steps past Anderson near the line, 9mins, Wilshere converts, 6-6; Westwood collects Briers' pass and powers past Brocklehurst, 23mins, 10-6; Briers lands penalty after an illegal ball steal on Anderson, 34mins, 12-6; Bridge is fed by Morley before driving through a tackle and putting Fa'afili over, 36mins, 16-6; Briers kicks penalty after Salford are caught offside, 40+mins, 18-6; Martin Gleeson puts Reardon away and Briers is in support, 40+mins, 22-6; Martin Gleeson takes Briers' pass and skips over from close range, 57mins, 26-6; Martin Gleeson's break scatters the defence and Briers' cut-out ball allows Fa'afili to set Penny on his way, 65mins, 30-6; Briers and Grose combine to put Penny over in the corner, 69mins, 34-6; Briers kicks long and Penny displays blistering pace to beat McGuinness to the ball and kick the ball forward to score, 74mins, 38-6; Clarke finishes off a break by Fa'afili, 76mins, 42-6.

Pens: Wolves 11 City Reds 8

Scrums: Wolves 6 City Reds 7

Attendance: 9,634

Warrington Guardian top men: Bridge 3pts, Penny 2pts, Morley 1pt.

Interesting note: The victory was Wolves' biggest win and best defensive display for 14 months.