Rugby League: Relegation tussle to go all the way

Super League’s battle for survival looks set to go down to the wire after bottom two Wakefield and Huddersfield both suffered defeats yesterday.

The Wildcats failed to carry through a brave second-half fightback when going down 26-16 to Salford at The Willows while Huddersfield fell to a 36-16 loss at high-flying Hull.

That leaves the Giants on five points after 22 games, still one point adrift of Wakefield - who were recently deducted four points for salary cap irregularities, pending an appeal.

Both have winnable games next Sunday, however, with Huddersfield entertaining Salford and Wakefield travelling to face London at The Valley.

Huddersfield boss Tony Smith remains defiant his side will continue to battle in their bid to scramble away from last place.

He said: ‘‘You can’t hand possession away as we did and expect to win.

‘‘But we showed a lot of effort and I felt new signing Martin Moana gave us some extra options.

‘‘We will keep battling on and I’m sure we will have learned from this performance and carry that into the final six matches.’’

Meanwhile Wakefield boss John Harbin admitted injuries to Willie Poching, with knee trouble, and Dane Dorahy, who went off dazed, were big blows to his side at Salford.

He said: ‘‘They are our play-makers but their absence is no excuse for the defeat, although we battled hard.

‘‘Brad Davis injected a lot of life into the team when he came on.

‘‘But credit to Salford, they hung in there when we had a lot of possession in the second half.’’

Salford are now safe on 16 points after giving new coach Steve McCormack his first win in charge since the departure of John Harvey.

Hull all but guaranteed themselves a play-off spot and move just one point behind third-placed St Helens, who lost at Castleford on Friday.