Flashback: Wigan Warriors 16-31 Salford Red Devils

Ahead of Friday’s Super 8s trip to Challenge Cup finalists Wigan Warriors we look at the Red Devils previous visit to the DW Stadium this season.
Ian Watson’s side headed into the game having lost just one of their last eight games in all competitions but knowing they hadn’t picked up a win in Wigan since a 21-14 victory over the Warriors back in 1997.
Wigan came into the fixture on the back of three wins from their last four games however their most recent was a 54-4 hammering at the hands of early runaway league leaders Castleford.
The Red Devils managed to put an end to their retched 20-year winless run in Wigan by sealing a 16-31 win, which was more comfortable than the scoreline suggests. Watson’s men warded off a late fightback from the Warriors to continue to climb the Super League table.
Kris Welham broke in the opening stages to get the Red Devils off to the perfect start. Niall Evalds crossed for his first of the evening as his decision to run the ball on the last tackle proved dividend and Ben Murdoch-Masila continued his trend of powering over from close-range moments later to send the visitors into the break with a 16-point lead.
Salford began the second half in identical fashion to the way they ended the first – in control. Full-back Evalds grabbed his second of the game as the full-back latched onto a low Michael Dobson kick before Greg Johnson rounded off a flowing Red Devils move.
However, Wigan wouldn’t lie down and back-to-back tries in quick succession courtesy of Liam Marshall and Ryan Sutton gave the hosts hope. Lewis Tierney found his way over shortly after to cut the arrears to just 12 points.
But, a late drop-goal and penalty goal from Gareth O’Brien confirmed a memorable victory for the Red Devils.
Salford team that day: Evalds, Johnson, Welham, Jones, Bibby; Dobson, Lui; A. Walne, Tomkins, Tasi, Murdoch-Masila, Lannon, Krasniqi. Interchanges: Kopczak, Murray, Brining, O’Brien.