After Leeds Rhinos and Wigan Warriors met on Saturday, it made the Channel 4 game between Warrington Wolves and Salford Red Devils a huge affair as it gave Warrington the chance to end Leeds’ play off hopes and all but end Salford’s whilst virtually securing their own.
Channel 4 had better get used to showing big games with Helen Skelton confirming they will be showing two more games.
These are to be two major play off games. The first being third vs sixth on Saturday 30th before the second semi-final on the 7th October the week after.
It is as dramatic as their last game, it will be a great watch.
In the heat with two open and attacking sides meeting you always expected a lot of points in the meeting between the two and it only took a matter of minutes until we saw the opening try as a kick from Josh Drinkwater was fumbled by George Burgess straight into the hands of Matty Nicholson to score.
Salford looked to hit back straight away and gave the ball to Deon Cross in space. He cut inside squeezed through and went to ground the ball. There was a suspicion that he had dropped the ball so it was sent up to the video referee as a try where it was determined he had been tackled so a penalty was awarded.
There was another try disallowed at the other end when Paul Vaughan twisted and turned his way towards the try line but as he reached over he lost control of the ball.
This gave Salford the chance to level matters when after a Peter Mata’utia knock on a good line from Ben Hellewell allowed the backrower to carve through and score.
Warrington had the chance to move further clear when they kicked the ball wide and it was batted back to George Williams. He volleyed it but it went dead. Had he caught it or hit it with less venom it would have been a certain try.
They were made to regret that as a Stefan Ratchford error then allowed Brodie Croft to score a simple try.
But straight after the break Warrington hit back with a try that was just like their first as the ball was dropped by Ken Sio and picked up by Matty Nicholson to score.
Warrington then nailed a penalty for a high tackle and Ratchford kicked it to take the Wolves ahead but a fortunate Brodie Croft try gave the Red Devils the lead after a kick hit a defender and landed in his arms.
That try was followed by one for his opposite number George Williams after a great offload allowing the Wolves to take a 20-18 lead but it was all square heading into the final minutes as a deflected pass was taken by Gil Dudson who was in an offside position leaving it at 20-all and forcing golden point.
In golden point the drama continued with Marc Sneyd hitting the post with a shot at the drop goal.
They would go on to win through a try however with Sam Stone backing up a Joe Burgess try to score.
