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Salford City Reds 18 Warrington Wolves 22

David Lawrenson
31/ 1/2008

HOLD on to your hats Salford fans as 2008 looks set to be a highly successful season on the evidence of Sunday’s friendly with Warrington Wolves.

The relegated Reds have been talking the talk in the build up to the new season with a host of their players and coaches confidently predicting trophy challenges. But a new-look Salford side showed that they can also walk the walk by putting in a hugely impressive display against a star-studded and almost full-strength Wolves team.

Sunday’s game, which was switched to the Willows due to pitch concerns at the Halliwell Jones Stadium, was Salford’s first hit-out of the new season while Warrington had played two pre-season friendlies before this.

But you would never have guessed it as Salford outfought and, at times, outplayed a Warrington side which is being billed as one of the favourites for the Super League title.

Considering there were so many new faces in Salford’s team, the Reds’ defensive organisation was nothing short of phenomenal.

Warrington boast some of the biggest names in rugby league. But the likes of new recruits Matt King, Michael Monaghan, Chris Hicks and Louis Anderson plus their newly-appointed Salford-born skipper Adrian Morley were forced to endure a frustrating afternoon before a late rally spared the Wolves’ blushes.

The Reds amazingly led 18-6 after 58 minutes of play.

But, despite supposedly working like Trojans in pre-season training, Salford tired considerably in the last 20 minutes and tries by Andy Bracek, Jon Clarke and Paul Rauhihi enabled Warrington to pinch their pockets.

Before that, the Reds were more than a match for Warrington in every facet of the game.

They scored tries via the highly impressive trio of Stuart Littler, Adam Sidlow and Phil Leuluai. And, with Salford looking full of creativity and enthusiasm, they came close to touching down on several other occasions too.

No one in a Salford shirt looked out of their depth with Craig Stapleton, Chris Borgese, Mat Gardner, James Jiminez, Paul White, Richard Myler, Jason Walton, Stephen Bannister, Andy Ballard and man mountain Sidlow all performing well on their debuts.

But, just like last year, John Wilshere was head and shoulders above everyone else in a Salford shirt.

Filling in for the injured Robbie Paul at half back, he was faultless in defence, pulling off a couple of try saving tackles.

And he was by far Salford’s most potent force in attack, setting up a try for Littler with a clever inside pass and coming agonisingly close to scoring himself on a couple of occasions as well.

Salford coach Shaun McRae said: "I thought it was a tremendous performance against a very strong side."

Team: Fitzpatrick; Gardner, Littler, Jiminez, White; Wilshere, Ratchford; Stapleton, Alker, Jewitt, Sibbit, Brocklehurst, Turner. Subs used: Myler, Walton, Leuluai, Highton, Nash, Sidlow, Adamson, Bannister, Ballard, Borgese. Tries: Littler, Sidlow, Leuluai. Goals: Wilshere (3). Attendance: 2,118.

Click on the video window to see full match highlights of the match, courtesy of Channel M's Code XIII show ...