Wakefield Trinity 20 Salford Red Devils 28 - Brave Wakefield’s comeback is thwarted as they finally run out of steam

This last regular round game was essentially a dead rubber for both sides but you would have hardly guessed as they fought out matters at Emerald Headingley.

Admittedly, at one point, Wakefield – playing their fifth game in little over a fortnight – looked dead and buried against a Salford Red Devils side who had seen three Super League wins chalked off earlier this week due to a financial issue from 2013.

However, Chester’s team once more showed the character that has been so vivid, in recent weeks at least, by firing back from a 22-4 interval deficit to almost stage an unlikely comeback.

Two tries from Kelepi Tanginoa – the relentless Australian second-row who must surely be their player of the year – and Ryan Hampshire’s second of the night got them back to 22-20 in the 66th minute.

With Salford captain Lee Mossop having also just been sin-binned for a trip, Trinity – with Eddie Battye and Tini Arona joining Tanginoa in a fine pack effort – will have fancied their chances of pushing further.

However, the veteran prop Craig Kopczak, in what might be his last game in Wakefield colours, spilled as he drove forward trying to get them on the front foot.

Twelve-man Salford made the most of the reprieve and, soon after, Tui Lolohea dabbed in a grubber that the otherwise excellent Innes Senior made a hash of, gifting Tyrone McCarthy the easiest of scores.

Krisnan Inu added his fourth goal of the night – Hampshire managed just two from four attempts – and the Challenge Cup finalists were able to hold on.

It was tough on Wakefield, who finish tenth after being leapfrogged by Salford, but there was still plenty to cheer for Chester.

Young half-back Brad Walker came up with a lovely kick for Tanginoa’s first before showing deft handling for the forward’s second while Hampshire brilliantly sent Senior clear on halfway before following up to take the return pass.

Unfortunately, this game was essentially lost in that first period with Trinity having got off to the worst possible start.

From the kick-off, they were tackled behind their own goalline to concede a drop-out.

If that was not bad enough, they did little to offer any resistance in the next set as Salford immediately capitalised.

Kallum Watkins – the England centre making his 300th career appearance at the ground where he made his name – flicked out a pass for Inu to continue his excellent recent form.

It was not long before the big Kiwi winger – who scored a hat-trick in Monday’s win over Catalans Dragons – was sauntering through again, this time feeding Niall Evalds when he could easily have scored himself.

Perhaps it was because Castleford Tigers-bound Evalds – a late change to the named side after coming in for Dan Sarginson – was playing his final game for the club.

With Inu converting, Wakefield were 10-0 down in as many minutes and, judging by their body language, it looked like they had already started their holidays.

That said, they were unfortunate not to get off the mark when full-back Evalds ignored one of the first rules of rugby and let Hampshire’s kick bounce in front of him. It bounced wickedly back into the hands of Ben Jones-Bishop who had a clear run to the line only to see video referee Robert Hicks rule it out for offside.

To compound their disappointment, soon after, a loose pass rolled behind Jones-Bishop – who, like Kopczak, is also out-of-contract – and Ed Chamberlain hacked on from halfway to score Salford’s third try.

Nevertheless, Chester’s side did eventually muster an effort of their own and it was worth the wait.

Reece Lyne, the centre making his 200th career appearance and looking to shake off the disappointment of being dropped by England coach Shaun Wane this week, showed all his class with smooth footwork seeing him escape from deep to set up Hampshire for a score.

The classy effort was a sign of the quality Trinity possesses but, frustratingly, the hard work was undone before the break when another handling error saw them concede more good attacking position. Instead, Andy Ackers scampered away from halfway to set up Lolohea for a try that Inu improved in the 38th minute and Salford would hold on against that fightback.

Wakefield Trinity: Hampshire; Jones-Bishop, Lyne, Tupou, Senior; K Wood, Bailey; Tanginoa, Bowes, Kopczak, Batchelor, Pitts, Arona. Substitutes: B Walker, Fifita, Green, Battye.

Salford Red Devils: Evalds; Kear, Watkins, Chamberlain, Inu; Lolohea, Atkin; Mossop, Jones, Yates, Ormondroyd, Pauli, Flanagan, Substitutes: Ackers, Burke, McCarthy, Ikahihifo.

Referee: Liam Moore (Wigan).

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