THERE was a sense of inevitability as Chris Hicks prepared for one last shot to rescue a bad Friday for Wolves.

After Ben Westwood’s try on the final play had pulled his side within two points, it was all on Hicks with the potentially match-saving conversion.

Based on prior evidence, it should have been a formality. After all, the Australian full back had nailed his two previous kicks, both from testing touchline spots.

But as the boos, whistles and jeers rained down on him from all sides, it suprised nobody when Hicks pulled his kick wide, except maybe the Salford fans.

It was just one of those days, the only problem being ‘those days’ have happened far too often so far this season.

Hicks should not bear responsibility for defeat, far from it.

Wolves simply lacked the variety and invention to break down a stubborn Salford resistance in conditions that were hardly conducive to attractive rugby.

Warrington were hit hard by the absence of playmaker-in-chief Lee Briers, who had enjoyed something of a revival in his previous three outings, as they got drawn into an old-fashioned slugfest.

Tony Smith’s side did, at least, stand up to that particular challenge.

The Wolves boss has made it one of his primary aims to sort out his side’s shaky defence and on this evidence, he has made significant progress.

Despite being tested on their goal line several times, the players displayed strength, desire and a never-say-die attitude to repel Reds’ onslaughts, leading Smith to enthuse: “That was the best defence I’ve seen from us since I’ve been here.”

Unfortunately, those efforts were undone by a familiar shortcoming.

Basic errors have plagued Wolves this season and again cropped up frequently at The Willows, allowing a grateful Richie Myler to score two simple tries that put Salford in command after Paul Johnson had given the visitors an early lead.

Wolves clawed themselves back into contention through Johnson’s second score, which came after a stunning 40-yard kick return from the impressive Matt King, but again switched off to let Luke Adamson creep through on the short side three minutes from time.

Westwood’s try provided the late hope that was cruelly - and predictably - dashed.

Match facts

Salford City Reds 18 Warrington Wolves 16

Wolves: Chris Hicks (2g); Paul Johnson (2t), Vinnie Anderson, Simon Grix, Matt King; Chris Bridge, Michael Monaghan; Adrian Morley, Mickey Higham, Garreth Carvell, Louis Anderson, Ben Westwood (1t), Ben Harrison. Subs: Paul Wood, Paul Rauhihi, Lee Mitchell, Jon Clarke.

Reds: John Wilshere (3g); Stefan Ratchford, Stuart Littler, Jordan Turner, Dean McGilvray; Jeremy Smith, Richie Myler (2t); Ray Cashmere, Malcolm Alker, Craig Stapleton, Luke Adamson (1t), Rob Parker, Luke Swain. Subs: Phil Leuluai, Lee Jewitt, Ian Sibbit, Robbie Paul.

Referee: Jamie Leahy

Scoring: Johnson darts over from dummy half after Louis Anderson is hauled down just short, 7mins, Hicks converts, 0-6; Myler picks up from the back of a scrum on the Warrington 20-metre line and darts through a gap on the blindside to score, 22mins, Wilshere converts, 6-6; Myler touches down his own grubber kick after King and Hicks both failed to deal with the loose ball behind their own goal line, 28mins, Wilshere converts, 12-6; Johnson scores after touching down Bridge’s grubber in the right corner, 50mins, Hicks converts, 12-12; Adamson squeezes his way over on the short side as Wolves anticipated a drop goal attempt, 77mins, Wilshere converts, 18-12; Westwood hits the line at pace to power through a gap off Bridge’s pass, 80mins, 18-16.

Pens: Wolves 5 Reds 7

Attendance: 6,150

Warrington Guardian top men: King 3pts, Johnson 2pts, Bridge 1pt.

Interesting note: Prior to this season, Johnson had never scored two tries in a game for Warrington. He has now achieved the feat twice.