Salford Red Devils 12 Wakefield Trinity 22: Reshuffled Trinity give it ‘the max’ in Super League clash at Salford

The hosts scored first in each half, but Trinity – with Max Jowitt partnering Jacob Miller in the pivots – were the better team for most of a dour contest.

Jowitt is a specialist full-back, but started at stand-off following injuries to Danny Brough in Betfred Super League round one and Ryan Hampshire a week ago,

He scored the opening try, put up a kick for another and landed three conversions from four attempts. Playing behind a strong pack effort, Miller kept Trinity ticking and sent Kelepi Tanginoa over for the try on his 26th birthday which put the game out of Salford’s reach in the final quarter.

“I thought we were good value,” Wakefield coach Chris Chester said. “We stuck to the plan really well. It was a scrappy game in the first 40 minutes, but in the second half we completed at 93 or 94 per cent and that kind of vall control generally wins you games.

“We were excellent in that second half and that needs to be a minimum standard now moving forward.

“We know when we play error-free footy we are a hard team to beat.”

Wakefield’s 6-4 half-time lead could have been greater on balance of the limited chances.

They recovered well from going 4-0 down after 15 minutes to a try inspired by their old boy Pauli Pauli.

The massive forward got a terrific off-load away to Kris Welham and he supplied Tui Lolohea who crossed off a one-two with Ken Sio.

Trinity had already gone close through Jay Pitts and grabbed the lead on 25 minutes when the lively Kyle Wood sent Reece Lyne into space and Jowitt was in support to cross.

In the next set Ryan Atkins split the defence, but full-back Alex Walker – making his return from injury and Trinity debut – dropped the pass.

Pitts, who is proving a good recruit following his return to the club, got over the line in the final seconds of the half, but was held up.

Other than the try, Salford’s only opportunity came following a powerful run by Pauli, but Joey Lussick was pulled down when he darted from acting-half.

Salford regained the advantage just six minutes into the second period through Sio, who got over at the corner from Niall Evalds’ pass.

Lolohea could not convert – for the second time – and Trinity were back in front within six minutes when Tom Johnstone went over after Salford’s right side defence failed to deal with Jowitt’s kick.

Bill Tupou had a strong game and widened the gap with an airborne finish from Reece Lyne’s pass on 58 minutes then, with 15 left, Tanginoa secured the ponts and capped a big individual performance by charging over from Miller’s pass.

Sio pulled an unconverted try back with eight minutes remaining, in similar fashion to his first score, but Trinity weren’t threatened in the closing stages.

Salford Red Devils: Evalds, Sio, Welham, Sarginson, Williams, Lolohea, Atkin, Mossop, Jones, Dudson, Pauli, Roberts, Yates. Subs Lussick, Lannon, Ikahihifo, Flanagan.

Wakefield Trinity: Walker, Tupou, Lyne, Atkins, Johnstone, Jowitt, Miller, Kopczak, K Wood, Navarrete, Ashurst, Pitts, Westerman. Subs J Wood, Green, Tanginoa, Crowther.

Referee: Liam Moore (Wigan).

Attendance: 3,801.