Two teams from the Super League had clean slates and a chance to re-start their season in defence of their Super League status. The Red Devils were still reeling from the 'resignation' of Theo Fages and hosted a Wakefield Wildcats side showing a resurgence of form under new coach Brian Smith.

Both sides knew that two points from this afternoons match could be the early key to unlock their Super League survival while defeat would put them in a massive dog fight against the best that the 2015 Championship had on offer.

With home advantage and two wins over their opponent already this season, Salford Red Devils were the favourites.

It was a nervy start by both sides which took twelve minutes to burst into life with a superb seventy metre solo try from Josh Griffin, evading the Wildcats tackles and weaving his way to the line to cross under the sticks and make his own conversion a simple one.

On twenty it was turning into the Josh Griffin show after a half break by Ben Jones-Bishop saw a pass out to Griffin to ground by the left corner flag. The Salford winger slid his conversion in front of the sticks but Salford's fans were delighted with the 10-0 lead.

Two quick penalties conceded by Wakefield in their own twenty allowed George Griffin to benefit from the Devils pressure as he pushed over the line to keep the Salford scoring in the family. His brother kicked the extras for 16-0 and the Wildcats seemed to have no answer to the Devils questions.

Just before half time and Jacob Miller went over after a great dribble and collect by Tim Smith to give the Wildcats some hope of a second half fightback. Lee Smith added the extras to give his side some half time respectability at 16-6 down. It was still an uphill challenge, but the visitors had something that they could work with.

On forty-five, Tim Smith was again the provider with step and a delayed inside pass to Miller to score under the sticks and make Lee Smith's conversion a formality for 16-12 and it was the Wildcats who were in the ascendancy and the Devils on the back foot.

Within two minutes Danny Washbrook gave the Wildcats the lead stepping twice to round the Devils defenders. Lee Smith again added the two nod in the space of seven minutes around half time the Devils had turned a sixteen point deficit into a two point advantage.

The lead swung back to Salford on fifty-eight when a flying Corey Paterson collected the ball off a Tommy Lee pass some twenty from the line and dragged three Wakefield tacklers over with him. He converted his own try to give his side a 22-18 lead.

Within three minutes the Wildcats were back level when Miller broke down field and kicked to the corner where Reece Lyne collected the bouncing ball and grounded in the corner. Lee Smith converted brilliantly from the touchline for 24-22.

The Wildcats lead was doubled on sixty-seven with a Smith penalty after Salford had interfered at the play-the-ball.

On seventy the lead changed again when Rangi Chase became the Salford hero when he picked up the ball two metres from his own line and went the length of the field to score between the sticks, and give Josh Griffin a simple conversion for 28-26.

Corey Paterson sealed the Red Devils win with two minutes left when he fielded a Dobson kick over the top to skip over the line and score. When Josh Griffin added the extras it was 34-26 and Wakefield had no comeback.

This was a great game of rugby league which bobbed and weaved its way through eighty minutes of excitement. The lead changed hands on numerous occasions and was there for the winning by both sides. In the end it was the Red Devils who kept their composure and sealed the points to join Hull KR, Bradford Bulls and Widnes Vikings with opening week wins in the Qualifying 8s.

Devils: Jones-Bishop, Griffin J (2T, 4G), Thornley, Sau, Johnson, Chase (T), Dobson, Taylor, Tomkins, Griffin G (T), Hansen, Maitua, Paterson (2T, G). Subs: Lee, Krasniqi, Evalds, Morley.

Wildcats: Smith L (5G), Owen, Tupou, Arundel, Lyne (T), Miller (2T), Smith T, Scruton, Moore, Anderson, Molloy, Ashurst, Simon. Subs: Washbrook (T), Mullally, Sio, Walker.

Referee: James Child
Attendance: 3,400