Summary

  • Rugby league fixtures go ahead on the day that elite football in England is suspended over coronavirus fears

  • Salford come from behind to beat Wigan in Super League

  • Challenge Cup: Wakefield survive Bradford scare and Featherstone ease past Hunslet

  1. Challenge Cup latestpublished at 20:34 Greenwich Mean Time 13 March 2020

    HT: Wakefield 7-6 Bradford

    Meanwhile, a drop goal from Jacob Miller has given Super League side Wakefield a 7-6 half-time lead in their Challenge Cup tie against an impressive Bradford Bull side.

    Featherstone continue to lead Hunslet 26-0 in the other cup game, where the second half has just got under way.

  2. Half-timepublished at 20:31 Greenwich Mean Time 13 March 2020

    Salford 2-14 Wigan

    Wigan celebrateImage source, Swpix.com

    League leaders Wigan have been really professional in their approach to this game, largely controlling the game and showing a ruthless side when afforded position.

    Jackson Hastings put them in front on his return to the club that revitalised his career, while Sam Powell was equally smart to finish just before the break and give Wigan a buffer.

    For Salford, there will be immense frustration. They worked hard to get themselves into the game, they grafted, got amongst the visitors... but didn't take their chances.

    The punishment came at the other end. Still 40 to come and two scores in it. Not insurmountable.

  3. MISSED PENALTYpublished at 39 mins

    Salford 2-14 Wigan

    Chris Hankinson has missed!

  4. Postpublished at 38 mins

    Salford 2-14 Wigan

    You see it so often, teams who get a grip of the 'second phase' - i.e. the offloading game - are the team that will enjoy success.

    Wigan got a grip of that in their scoring set.

    Mitch Clark by the way, was just held up after another devastating surge. High tackle... Wigan to take the two.

  5. try

    TRY: Salford 2-14 Wiganpublished at 36 mins

    Sam Powell, con Chris Hankinson

    Sam Powell tryImage source, Rex Features

    Sam Powell is as sharp as a tack around the ruck as he takes an offload on the back of some excellent work from the Wigan forwards and weaves his way over the stripe to score.

    Joe Bullock and Mitch Clark both showed their ramrod straight carries and good hands in the tackle to keep the play alive.

  6. Challenge Cup latestpublished at 20:26 Greenwich Mean Time 13 March 2020

    HT: Featherstone 26-0 Hunslet

    Featherstone hold a commanding 26-0 half-time lead against Hunslet in their Challenge Cup tie.

    Ben Blackmore went over for Rovers' fifth try just minutes after Josh Hardcastle made it 20-0 just after the half-hour mark.

    Super League side Wakefield have leveled things up against Championship club Bradford, with Joe Westerman's effort cancelling out Jordan Lilley score for the Bulls.

    We are still about five minutes from half-time in that one.

  7. Postpublished at 34 mins

    Salford 2-8 Wigan

    Real push here from Salford as we edge toward half-time.

    Seb Ikahihifo is held out, Pauli Pauli held out... then Joey Lussick - who loves a goalline sneak - fumbles at the play-the-ball with the Wigan defensive line shooting up and the pressure dissipates again.

    Not taking their chances, but credit to the Warriors' D.

  8. Postpublished at 32 mins

    Salford 2-8 Wigan

    Wigan show composure by rolling the ball "off the island" as it's often called, as Tommy Leuluai just dribbles a grubber to touch.

    Salford yomp forward from the scrum. When Pauli Pauli rattles into contact he wins a penalty. Wigan have four in the ruck... not allowed to get up and play the ball.

  9. Postpublished at 31 mins

    Salford 2-8 Wigan

    Kevin Brown drops off Pauli Pauli on a switch and he gobbles up some metres. Ryan Lannon continues the surges and Dan Sarginson cruises into the line.

    Salford up to the 10.

    Brown has a pop, Wigan shoot out... the ball is bumped to the corner off the boot and Kris Welham does well to climb, but the minute he hits the turf, he is jammed in some vice-like tackling from Wigan.

    Big defensive integrity from the visitors.

  10. Postpublished at 29 mins

    Salford 2-8 Wigan

    Jake Bibby swipes former teammate Niall Evalds high, but also catches a bit of friendly fire from Jackson Hastings - two ex-Red Devils involved there.

    Evalds get a penalty on the back of it, but Bibby is having a bit of treatment to the eye.

    Salford growing in confidence, but Wigan look confident defensively. Bibby heading off for an assessment and young half-back Harry Smith is thrown on.

  11. Postpublished at 29 mins

    Salford 2-8 Wigan

    Wigan into their groove, just chopping out sets for fun. They finish them in good spaces and Salford have to work hard in reply.

    Mind you, their forwards are fronting up and carting up. Luke Yates in particular, ably assisted by Pauli Pauli and Seb Ikahihifo. Big boppers if there ever were two.

    George BurgessImage source, Swpix.com
  12. Postpublished at 26 mins

    Salford 2-8 Wigan

    Wrecking ball carry there from Ethan Havard for Wigan, making big incisions into the Salford line.

    However, when the kick goes up, he's offside and Salford get the penalty.

    Here comes Seb Ikahihifo. Salford have rallied since conceding. Need to make some dints in the Wigan line...

    Just as it looks promising, a forward pass brings things to a halt. Kevin Brown at fault there.

  13. Postpublished at 24 mins

    Salford 2-8 Wigan

    Just to mention, Salford full-back Niall Evalds is of Latvian descent, while highly-rated Wigan youngster Ethan Havard was born in Bulgaria.

    Who says it's not a global game?

  14. Postpublished at 22 mins

    Salford 2-8 Wigan

    Niall Evalds cracks the line but when he gets to the 10 on the last, his kick is slightly panicked.

    Salford starting to take on Wigan out on the edges, rather than tango in the middle. It's giving them a chance. One simple inside ball opened Wigan up there, Evalds unlucky.

  15. Postpublished at 20 mins

    Salford 2-8 Wigan

    Salford finally get some field position and ask a few questions of the Wigan defence, but when Tui Lolohea rolls a kick in behind, there's some brilliant work from Liam Marshall, who even burrows his way into the field of play to avoid the drop out.

    Now it's Wigan returning the ball over in a less favourable spot.

    Salford enjoying their purple patch. Every team gets one, it's about how much advantage you can take from it.

  16. Postpublished at 18 mins

    Salford 2-8 Wigan

    Salford get a bit of a stroke of luck when Kevin Brown's kick is regathered for a repeat set.

    Then a penalty goes their way when Ryan Lannon is held down at the ruck, and the Red Devils tap it. They want to pressure Wigan.

    However, some sloppy play sees Luke Yates spill the ball in good ball position and the opportunity evaporates into the chilly nights sky.

  17. Postpublished at 15 mins

    Salford 2-8 Wigan

    There's the difference. Wigan power forward in the corresponding set having seen off a Salford set from the restart, and the last tackle kick finds Niall Evalds in his own 10.

    Salford's full-back is electric, but the kickchase leaves him with little room to work in.

  18. Challenge Cup latestpublished at 20:05 Greenwich Mean Time 13 March 2020

    Featherstone 16-0 Hunslet

    We are coming up to the half-hour mark in the slightly earlier kick-off between Featherstone and Hunslet, and it is the Championship club who are very much in control.

    Dane Chisholm's score under the sticks midway through the first-half was Rovers' third of the game.

    The tie between Wakefield and Bradford remains scoreless after 15 minutes, but both sides have threatened early on.

  19. try

    TRY: Salford 2-8 Wiganpublished at 13 mins

    Jackson Hastings, con Chris Hankinson

    Jackson Hastings try for WiganImage source, Rex Features

    There's your answer. No.

    Horrible from Salford on the back of the restart, as Ken Sio knocks on.

    That hands Wigan a 10-metre scrum, and on the back of it, two quick passes find Jackson Hastings, whose rubber-legged balanced running sees him step back against the grain and wriggle his way through to score.

    Short-lived for Salford.