Video- Salford Red Devils 30 Wakefield Trinity 6: Wakefield's long wait for Challenge Cup glory drags on

THE BITTER Challenge Cup disappointment came around early for Wakefield Trinity this season.
Wakefields Anthony England is brought crashing down to earth by Salfords Kriss Brining, Mark Flanagan and Ben Murdoch-Masila in last nights Challenge Cup quarter-final tie (Picture: Jonathan Gawthorpe).Wakefields Anthony England is brought crashing down to earth by Salfords Kriss Brining, Mark Flanagan and Ben Murdoch-Masila in last nights Challenge Cup quarter-final tie (Picture: Jonathan Gawthorpe).
Wakefields Anthony England is brought crashing down to earth by Salfords Kriss Brining, Mark Flanagan and Ben Murdoch-Masila in last nights Challenge Cup quarter-final tie (Picture: Jonathan Gawthorpe).

Embarrassed 56-12 by Warrington Wolves in last year’s semi-final, they hoped to move towards redeeming themselves by beating Salford Red Devils in Thursday night’s last-eight meeting.

However, Chris Chester’s side – despite winning here 34-24 in Super League just 11 days previously – were outclassed again following a wretched display that ended this year’s hopes of a first Wembley appearance since 1979.

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Lacklustre Wakefield were unrecognisable from the side that had gone on a seven-game winning run before losing narrowly against Leeds Rhinos on Saturday and were 30-0 down by the 48th minute.

Wakefields Anthony England is brought crashing down to earth by Salfords Kriss Brining, Mark Flanagan and Ben Murdoch-Masila in last nights Challenge Cup quarter-final tie (Picture: Jonathan Gawthorpe).Wakefields Anthony England is brought crashing down to earth by Salfords Kriss Brining, Mark Flanagan and Ben Murdoch-Masila in last nights Challenge Cup quarter-final tie (Picture: Jonathan Gawthorpe).
Wakefields Anthony England is brought crashing down to earth by Salfords Kriss Brining, Mark Flanagan and Ben Murdoch-Masila in last nights Challenge Cup quarter-final tie (Picture: Jonathan Gawthorpe).

Granted, they had selection issues having been shorn by injury of props David Fifita and Mitch Allgood, James Batchelor and leading try-scorer Ben Jones-Bishop from last weekend’s squad.

Furthermore, winger Bill Tupou pulled out during the warm-up, prompting a late call for Ashley Gibson, and they were already without captain Danny Kirmond, Tom Johnstone, Tinirau Arona and Jacob Miller.

Still, the side Chester fielded were capable of much more and, given their competitive nature in 2017, he will be disappointed they did not give Salford more of a contest.

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He sprang a surprise by starting with Adam Walker, the recently signed prop who returned from a knee injury after just three weeks when initially ruled out for 10.

TOUGH NIGHT: Wakefield's Scott Grix gets away from Salford's Logan Tomkins.
 Picture: Jonathan GawthorpeTOUGH NIGHT: Wakefield's Scott Grix gets away from Salford's Logan Tomkins.
 Picture: Jonathan Gawthorpe
TOUGH NIGHT: Wakefield's Scott Grix gets away from Salford's Logan Tomkins. Picture: Jonathan Gawthorpe

The former Hull KR forward, though, clearly looked unfit as Salford – with the rampaging second-row Ben Murdoch-Masila in terrific form – meticulously went about securing their place in Sunday’s semi-final draw.

Flat-footed in defence, hesitant with the ball in hand and consistently conceding possession, Wakefield struggled to gain any momentum from the off.

They were 12-0 behind inside just 13 minutes, Ryan Lannon benefiting after Michael Dobson had possession stripped from him and then Murdoch-Masila starting his torment, ripping through Michael Sio’s attempted tackle after Dean Handley’s offload gifted Salford the ball.

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There was a strange uneasiness about the visitors’ back three, none of whom seemed to want to claim any of Dobson’s or Robert Lui’s high kicks, which caused more mayhem in the ranks.

Not a good night for Wakefield coach Chris Chester after a convincing defeat at Salford. Picture Jonathan GawthorpeNot a good night for Wakefield coach Chris Chester after a convincing defeat at Salford. Picture Jonathan Gawthorpe
Not a good night for Wakefield coach Chris Chester after a convincing defeat at Salford. Picture Jonathan Gawthorpe

Dobson added a penalty to the first two of his four conversions and Wakefield did not even get into their rivals’ 20 with the ball until the 25th minute. This attack amounted to nothing and when they did force a drop-out of their own, Keegan Hirst spilled on the second tackle.

The game was essentially over after Chris Annakin conceded another cheap penalty and Niall Evalds finished off wide out through some paperthin defence in the 35th minute for Dobson to send his side in 20-0 ahead.

Trinity needed to score first in the second period, but a sublime flick pass from Murdoch-Masila, who was just too strong to handle, saw Greg Johnson extend Salford’s lead in the 43rd minute.

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Soon after, former Huddersfield Giants prop Craig Kopczak shrugged off more poor defence to stretch out to score again, the visitors at least avoiding being left pointless when Liam Finn scrambled over for his first try of the season, but that did not come until the 72nd minute.

Wakefields Anthony England is brought crashing down to earth by Salfords Kriss Brining, Mark Flanagan and Ben Murdoch-Masila in last nights Challenge Cup quarter-final tie (Picture: Jonathan Gawthorpe).Wakefields Anthony England is brought crashing down to earth by Salfords Kriss Brining, Mark Flanagan and Ben Murdoch-Masila in last nights Challenge Cup quarter-final tie (Picture: Jonathan Gawthorpe).
Wakefields Anthony England is brought crashing down to earth by Salfords Kriss Brining, Mark Flanagan and Ben Murdoch-Masila in last nights Challenge Cup quarter-final tie (Picture: Jonathan Gawthorpe).

Salford Red Devils: Evalds; Johnson, Welham, Sa’u, Bibby; Lui, Dobson; Tasi, Tomkins, Kopczak, Murdoch-Masila, Lannon, Flanagan. Substitutes: Griffin, Brining, Carney, Hauraki.

Wakefield Trinity: Grix; Lyne, Gibson, Arundel, Caton-Brown; Williams, Finn; England, Wood, Walker, Hadley, Ashurst, Sio. Substitutes: Crowther, Annakin, Hirst, Huby.

Referee: R Hicks (Oldham).