Solomona's skills prove too good for Salford

Wakefield 21 Salford

David Solomona and Sid Domic are one of the classiest double acts in the game, and they proved too slick for Salford in a cliffhanger at Belle Vue.

Salford had played outstandingly well for a six-point lead at half-time, but the way Solomona and Domic opened up the left-hand side twice early in the second half put the home team on the way to victory.

Solomona's handling is sublime - the way he showed the ball outside and then turned it back to put Domic through a huge gap was a classic example of his art. The two players were in evidence again a few minutes later, Solomona supplying a fingertip pass to send Domic over for another try.

Chris Charles narrowed Wakefield's lead, but Gareth Ellis's power took him over the Salford line to open a six-point gap before Ben Jeffries' drop goal showed that his maths is better than his coach's. "I wondered why he'd gone for it, because I thought we had an eight-point lead," said Shane McNally. Jeffries' more accurate calculation proved important, as Andy Coley's try and another Charles goal brought Salford to the brink of snatching a win.

"We've lost a few games by narrow margins, so it was good to get up in one," McNally said. "David's got tremendous skills and he's combining well with Sid as they get to know each other. On top of that, he attracts a lot of attention from the defence."

In the first half Wakefield took an early lead through Justin Ryder's try and a David March penalty. But when Salford got into their stride they played some enterprising rugby, taking command through tries from Stuart Littler and Cliff Beverley and two goals from Charles.

"We made too many mistakes," said their coach, Karl Harrison. "We played very well in the first half, but we touched the ball once in the first nine minutes after the break. We can't buy a win at the moment, but we're getting closer."

The match had a little of everything, including accusations that a hooter was being sounded from the Salford directors' box in order to put Wakefield off their kicks at goal. If that was the case, it did not work on Solomona and Domic, or on Jeffries when he kicked that vital point.

Wakefield: C Halpenny; J Ryder, J Demetriou, S Domic, S Tadulala; G Ellis, B Jeffries; D Griffin, D March, M Korkidas, J Field, D Solomona, M Applegarth. Substitutes used: R Spicer, S Snitch, M Wainwright, O Elima.

Salford: J Caine; N McAvoy, S Littler, K McGuinness, T Stewart; C Beverley, G Clinch; N Baynes, M Alker, S Rutgerson, A Coley, S Baldwin, C Charles. Substitutes used: J Flowers, P Highton, M Shipway, A Johnson.

Referee: S Ganson (St Helens).