A try from Australian import Phil Bailey with the last play of the game gave Wigan victory over Salford in Malcolm Alker's testimonial at The Willows.

A 76th-minute drop goal from two-try David Hodgson looked like giving the Reds the spoils in a pre-season encounter that was far from friendly with three players - David Vaealiki, Iafeta Paleaaesina and Paul Highton - sent to the sin-bin.

But young full-back Chris Ashton kicked ahead and, despite diving and just missing the touchdown himself, saw Bailey grab the glory.

Wigan had led 6-0 and 10-6 in the first half, but had to fight back - literally - to shade a game that catered more to the blood-thirsty punters than the rugby league purists in the 2,909 crowd.

Wigan were again without new signing Trent Barrett, although the Warriors remain hopeful his sore calf will be okay for the opening engage Super League clash against Warrington on Friday week.

The game was delayed 15 minutes while referee Ashley Klein made his way to the ground and the official seemed determined to make up for lost time, a penalty in the very first tackle setting the scene.

The Warriors opened the scoring after nine minutes, Bryan Fletcher taking a quick tap and driving the ball hard into the defence before offloading for Mark Calderwood to score in the corner.

Pat Richards converted from the touchline but the Reds hit back within six minutes thanks to excellent contributions from two former Warriors.

Luke Robinson sent a beautifully-judged kick through the defence and Hodgson dribbled the ball beyond Ashton to score next to posts, Robinson levelling matters at 6-6.

The next 20 minutes were scrappy but Wigan again hit the front with a long-range score.

Michael Withers' 40-metre break set up the field position for Harrison Hansen to cross in the right-hand corner.

Salford got back on level terms a minute before the interval when Luke Dorn's kick eluded several players and David Gower touched down.

The home side did hit the front four minutes into the second period, with Hodgson throwing a dummy and just reaching over the tryline.

The Reds had been helped up the field by a late hit by Vaealiki on Dorn, which earned the former New Zealand Test centre a 10-minute spell in the sin-bin.

But the 12-man Warriors would not lie down and Shane Millard squeezed a pass out of the back door for Danny Hill to score with his first touch of the game to make it 14-14.

The game had been niggly for a while and it erupted on 63 minutes when Paleaaesina and Highton traded punches and both earned a spell on the sidelines.

Hodgson looked like he had won it with his late one-pointer - but Bailey, with Ashton's help, had other ideas.