Toronto Wolfpack lose first competitive match, beaten by Super League’s Salford
SALFORD, United Kingdom — The Toronto Wolfpack suffered their first loss in a competitive match Sunday, beaten 29-22 by the Salford Red Devils in the fifth round of the Ladbrokes Challenge Cup.
Salford stands third in the elite Super League, two divisions and 22 places above the fledgling Wolfpack, rugby league’s first transatlantic team.
Despite that gap, the Wolfpack had their chances and made for a difficult afternoon for Salford, which trailed 12-6 and 16-12 in the first half at A.J. Bell Stadium. But Toronto, attempting to play an expansive game, made mistakes and was ill-disciplined.
Salford also had its issues, reduced to 12 men in the first half when Justin Carney was red-carded for dissent with the home side trailing 16-12. Toronto forward Adam Laithwaite, meanwhile, was stretchered off in the 23rd minute of a physical contest.