Wildcats optimism takes a blow with Belle Vue defeat

After a troubled winter, the cash-strapped club must have wondered if they would even get to kick-off in Super League this season.

Punished with a four-point deduction for going into administration, Trinity were finally taken over by local businessman Andrew Glover and last week produced an outstanding result in France to beat Catalan Dragons.

So spirits were high around Belle Vue yesterday, despite the threat of losing their Super League licence still hanging over them this season.

But just 46 seconds were on the clock when Salford raced away to open the scoring and never looked like conceding that lead at a rain-soaked Belle Vue.

“We were out-completed, out-defended, out-kicked and attitude-wise the opposition were far more urgent and desperate and showed a greater commitment and desire,” said Trinity coach John Kear.

“It really is a good learning experience for a lot of these young lads.

“In a week, we went from doers to talkers. But to do the talk you’ve got to walk the walk.

“Compliments to Salford because they did it when they were under the cosh. Last week we came through it but we let ourselves down with inconsistency this week.

“You can’t have one good week and think you’ve arrived as a Super League player. You’ve arrived as a Super League player when you’ve done what Kevin Sinfield’s done, when you’ve played 10 years at the top.

“A lot have one good performance then fall off the horse, and that’s what we’ve done.

“Salford provoked a response after last week’s nightmare and we need to provoke a response after a very poor performance.”

Salford were on the scoreboard within the first minute. A superb break from Matthew Smith saw him race away and the supporting Stefan Ratchford dived over. Daniel Holdsworth converted.

A heavy downpour before kick-off meant greasy conditions, and some early handling errors. That stopped good probing work from hooker Julien Rinaldi for Trinity and the visitors made them pay.

A lofted 40-20 kick from Holdsworth turned Wakefield around, and from good field position Stephen Wild scurried over in the corner. Holdsworth was unable to add the extras, but at 10-0 down inside eight minutes it wasn’t what Trinity fans had turned up to watch on their first visit to Belle Vue this season.

But things were about to get worse for Trinity when Kevin Penny failed to cope with Holdsworth’s dabbed kick into the corner and Mark Henry pounced for a try. Holdsworth’s conversion made it 16-0 after 18 minutes.

Rinaldi was central to all Wakefield’s attacking threats and the hosts finally broke some impressive Salford defending – Ray Cashmere at the fore – when a gap opened up in front of the posts and Tommy Lee obliged by diving over. Josh Veivers converted.

The game was delicately balanced now and the next try was always going to be crucial.

Unfortunately, both sides were guilty of some terrible handling errors, coughing up under pressure in the tackle, and scoring chances were at a premium.

Slick handling from Iafeta Paleaaesina nearly created an opening, but Salford finally crafted a try for Rob Parker under the posts.

Holdsworth converted to stretch Reds’ advantage to 22-6 with little over 20 minutes remaining on the clock. Home winger Penny never stopped running but the Salford defence were holding out.

Wakefield were handed a numerical advantage when prop Adam Boyle was sin-binned for a late hit on Jeremy Smith.

Frankie Mariano and Chris Dean were held up close to the line, but Trinity – despite the efforts of the hard-running Glenn Morrison – could not push home their advantage.

Salford’s superior defence had proved the difference between the two sides all afternoon and as the 6,823 crowd started to dwindle away, Salford wrapped up the points with tries from Adam Sidlon and Henry in the right-hand corner.

“That was a performance like I always thought we could play,” said Salford coach Shaun McRae. “And defensively I thought we were very sound.

“We covered a lot of their threats and a lot of players showed their potential and their ability.

“It was a great all-round team performance. It was a real war of attrition in the middle.

“The conditions were quite poor and the ground got heavy. It got a bit gluepot-ish. It was always going to be a middle-type battle and our middle unit defended well.”

Wakefield: Veivers, Penny, Murphy, Dean, George, Smith, Lee, Korkidas, Rinaldi, P. Johnson, Mariano, Morrison, Howarth. Substitutes: Gledhill, Davey, Amor, Henderson.

Salford: Patten, Broughton, Henry, Nero, Gibson, Ratchford, Holdsworth, Cashmere, Smith, Boyle, Adamson, Sidlow, Wild. Substitutes: Parker, Paleaaesina, Sneyd, Jewitt.

Referee: S Ganson (St Helens).