Wakefield 14-12 Salford: Hosts claim second Super League win of season
Last Updated: 10/02/18 7:36am
Wakefield survived a late Salford comeback to hold on for a 14-12 win at the Mobile Rocket Stadium.
The final kick of the game from Gareth O'Brien could have salvaged a point for the visitors but his conversion attempt drifted narrowly wide of the uprights and Wakefield secured the win.
The hosts had held an 8-0 lead at the break courtesy of an early try from Scott Grix and the boot of Liam Finn.
Robert Lui's score after 47 minutes put Salford right back into the mix and a second four-pointer in as many games for Niall Evalds levelled proceedings at 8-8 with 25 minutes still to play.
Chris Chester's side struck next as Ryan Hampshire's kick forwards landed directly into Jacob Miller's hands and Finn made sure of the extra two.
Wakefield looked as if they would see out the game before Kris Welham spun over in the corner and that set up O'Brien's final shot at goal.
The home side started full of intensity and the lively Grix burst through a gap in the Salford defence to open the scoring after five minutes.
Salford had plenty of possession and territory but could not make it count, Jake Bibby came close but spilled Welham's high pass with the try-line at his mercy.
Wakefield rode the storm and Finn opted to take the two points on offer in front of goal three minutes before half-time.
Salford shipped 30 points in the second half against Wigan last week but, after surviving a scare when Wakefield prop Pauli Pauli failed to take advantage of some loose defending, the visitors found a route back into the match.
It was Wakefield's turn to switch off after quick handling down the right from Salford was followed by Lui going over from dummy-half in the 47th minute.
That provided the spark for a rejuvenated Salford as, seven minutes later, the ball was spread out wide for Evalds to go over in the left corner although O'Brien's failure to convert left the scores level at 8-8.
Indiscipline from Salford allowed Wakefield some respite and they were able to forage ahead once again in the 63rd minute when Miller was alert to touch down to the right of the posts after Hampshire's kick.
Hampshire himself was then denied a try after a knock-on and Wakefield's inability to kill the game off came back to haunt them when Welham burrowed over in the final minute in the right corner.
O'Brien had failed to split the posts with his two previous conversion attempts and he sent his third effort from the touchline wide after the hooter to give Wakefield victory.