Wakefield Trinity 32 Salford Red Devils 18 - Fearless Wildcats keen to preserve winning momentum

Wakefield Trinity Wildcats' Wakefield's Tom Johnstone scores his first try against Salford Red Devils.
Picture: Jonathan Gawthorpe — Wakefield Trinity Wildcats' Wakefield's Tom Johnstone scores his first try against Salford Red Devils. Picture: Jonathan Gawthorpe

Chester, sacked by Hull KR earlier this season, has got last year’s whipping boys playing with a new-found confidence, enthusiasm and self-belief.

That was highlighted when prop Nick Scruton found the pace to run down Salford scrum-half Michael Dobson when he had a clear run to the line during a spell of heavy Salford pressure after the interval.

“We had a lot of defending to do in the second half,” said Chester afterwards. “But it showed the character of the players when we’ve got a front-rower chasing back Michael Dobson to save a try.

“That’s what this club is all about – it is all about desire and attitude and we had plenty of that.”

Wakefield now have four wins to their credit from 10 games this season, one more than they managed in the opening 23 rounds of the 2015 campaign, when they finished 11 points adrift at the foot of the table.

“Winning becomes a habit,” added an understandably delighted Chester.

“We have just got to make sure we continue the momentum and continue the work out on the training field and, hopefully, some more results will come along the way.

Wakefield Trinity Wildcats' Jacob Miller breaks clear of Salford's Carl Foster to score the opening try.
Picture: Jonathan Gawthorpe — Wakefield Trinity Wildcats' Jacob Miller breaks clear of Salford's Carl Foster to score the opening try. Picture: Jonathan Gawthorpe

“We’ve got Wigan on Sunday which will be an extremely tough game.

“But there’s a lot of confidence in this group of players at the moment and we’re not scared of anybody.”

Wakefield led 12-0 after only seven minutes through tries from Jacob Miller and Mikey Sio, both converted by Liam Finn. Salford levelled after Gareth O’Brien and Matt Sarsfield crossed and the former kicked two goals. But just before the break Tom Johnston touched down from Miller’s kick and he added a second soon afterwards, off Max Jowitt’s pass.

A Justin Carney try and Dobson goal set up a tense finish, but Reece Lyne dummied over and Finn kicked his fourth conversion before Johnstone completed his hat-trick, with the impressive Jowitt again being the provider.

Wakefield Trinity Wildcats' Liam Finn kicks the points. Picture: Scott Merrylees

Wakefield Trinity Wildcats: Jowitt, Jones-Bishop, Arundel, Lyne, Johnstone, Miller, Finn, Scruton, Moore, England, Kirmond, Ashurst, Sio. Substitutes: Walton, Arona, Simon, Molloy.

Salford Red Devils: O’Brien, Carney, Sa’u, Jones, J Griffin, Wood, Dobson, Forster, Tomkins, G Griffin, Murdoch-Masila, Sarsfield, Flanagan. Substitutes: Evalds. A Walne, J Walne, Krasniqi.

Referee: J Cobb (Leigh).