 With Hull FC having already booked their passage to Wembley, attention switched to the Halliwell-Jones Stadium in Warrington where the Challenge Cups most successful side were up against a team who have not made the final in forty-eight years, and who haven't lifted the trophy since 1938.
Salford Red Devils came into the game from a higher league position, and after having shared the spoils with Wigan Warriors during the opening twenty-three rounds of Super League with one win each, all indications were that it should be a close game.
But Warriors came into the game as clear favourites with the bookies and most commentators expected that they'd be the ones who would be joining the Airlie Birds to fight for the first silverware of the season.
Just like yesterday afternoon it was a rip-snorting start to the game with the Red Devils getting into Wigan's ribs early on. On three minutes Wigan had a try ruled out for foot in touch, and two minutes later a second for a forward pass.
The Warriors broke the line for the first time on eight minutes when George Williams earned the space and used Willie Isa who put Oliver Gildart through a gap to score. Williams added the extra two and the Cherry & Whites were six up.
Salford held down in the tackle inside their own twenty and gifted Williams a penalty after twelve minutes for 8-0.
With the exception of the opening set of six, the Warriors were dominating against a rapidly tiring Red Devils side who were slipping off tackles, and failing to cover in defence. On sixteen Isa crossed for Wigan's second try off a Williams pass when he went through a massive gap to score on the angle. Williams failed to add the extras.
Salford managed to get their second wind on the back of a couple of Wigan penalties. Their breakthrough came when Greg Johnson was at the end of the line to take an Evalds miss-out pass to dive over in the right corner. Michael Dobson converted well from the touchline and after twenty-three minutes the Red Devil's had hauled themselves back into the game.
Within two minutes Salford were back level when debutant Tyrone McCarthy won the race to ground a Dobson grubber kick. Dobson kicked the conversion and against the run of play in the opening twenty minutes the Red Devils were back square at 12-12.
A Carney 40-20, a repeat set of six, and a goal line drop out ramped up the pressure. When Sam Tomkins pushed McCarthy off the ball as he was in the act of scoring Salford were given the penalty under the sticks and the Wigan full-back was sent to the sin-bin. Dobson kicked the two to edge his side into the lead.
It had been a half of two halves. Wigan were totally dominating in the opening twenty and were good value for their lead but everything switched in the second twenty with a terrific fightback from the Red Devils to edge the half and take a lead into the sheds.
Joe Burgess had a try turned down for Wigan just after the restart following a brilliant chase back over seventy metres by Niall Evalds to dislodge the ball from the wingers hands as he was in the act of scoring.
It was a real arm-wrestle of a start to the second half and when Salford stole the ball on fifty-four Williams took the opportunity to level the scores at 14-14. Three minutes later and a high tackle on Taulima Tautai gifted a thirty metre penalty but Williams missed the target.
As the clock ticked over the hour Wigan again hit the front when Burgess broke down the left wing and put in a cross field kick to the centre where it was brilliantly picked up by Michael McIlorum to go ten metres and dive over by the uprights. Williams added the two and the Warriors were six ahead.
A Sam Tomkins drop goal on sixty-five meant that Salford had to score twice to re-take the lead.
Todd Carney kicked a 40-20 on seventy-one and Anthony Gelling kicked the ball away to stop a quick re-start and saw yellow from the referee for a professional foul but Gildart put the result beyond doubt when he scooted over in the last minute, the Wigan supporters were planning their trips well before that. Williams added the extras for a 27-14 win but the scoreline belied the closeness of the game and did a disservice to the effort of the Red Devil's.
It was a brave effort from a Salford Red Devils side who brought a ‘never say die’ attitude. Wigan just had a little more class and a little more composure. It will be the Cherry and Whites of Wigan who join the Black and White of Hull FC on the famous turf at Wembley on the 26th August.
Devils: Evalds, Johnson (T), Sa'u, Welham, Vatuvei, Carney, Dobson (3G), Tasi, Tomkins, Kopczak, Jones, Murdoch-Masila, Hauraki. Subs: O’Brien, Griffin, Krasniqi, McCarthy (T).
Warriors: Tomkins S (SB, DG), Davies T, Gelling (SB), Gildart (2T), Burgess, Williams (5G), Leuluai, Nuuausala, McIlorum (T), Sutton, Bateman, Isa (T), O’Loughlin. Subs: Tomkins J, Clubb, Powell, Tautai.
Referee: James Child.
Half-Time: 14-12.
Full-Time: 14-27.
Attendance: . |
