Challenge Cup: Warrington ease to victory over Salford
Lee Briers scored a try as Warrington eased into the last eight of the Tetley's Challenge Cup with victory over Salford.
Last Updated: 13/05/13 8:55am
The veteran stand-off, out since February with neck and calf injuries, scored his 149th try for the club just three minutes after entering the action as a second-half substitute.
He also kicked the 1000th goal of his career while former Salford favourite Stefan Ratchford scored two tries as the Wolves romped to victory.
Salford had plenty of possession early on but were unable to make inroads against the hosts, who effectively put the match to bed inside eight first-half minutes.
England prop Chris Hill opened the scoring when he proved unstoppable on a rampaging run 10 metres out while full-back Brett Hodgson sliced open Salford's defence with a run from deep to get Joel Monaghan over at the corner.
Warrington's third try was the result of a comedy of errors, as they three times reclaimed possession from hoisted kicks by Ratchford and Monaghan before Hodgson hacked the ball on to get the touchdown as the Reds failed to clear the danger.
There was no way back for the visitors when Ratchford dummied his way over for a fourth Warrington try 10 minutes later and Hodgson kicked his fourth goal to make it 24-0 after 26 minutes.
Micky Higham added to Warrington's try total three minutes into the second half, burrowing his way over after taking Garreth Carvell's offload close to the line, before making way for the return of Briers.
No sooner had he come on than the club's favourite son jinked his way over for a try.
Ratchford, having moved to centre, then claimed his second, winning the chase to Hodgson's kick to the line, and Hodgson maintained his 100% record by landing his seventh goal to make it 42-0.
Salford prevented a whitewash when scrum-half Liam Foran swooped on a loose ball to get winger Jodie Broughton over for a 65th-minute try, to which Lee Gaskell added the goal.
But it was only a temporary respite as the holders finished the match with two more tries in the last 12 minutes - Monaghan touching down in the corner before prop Paul Wood barged over.
