Rising teenage star Kevin Penny bagged a superb second-half hat-trick as Warrington swept to a third victory over Salford this season.

The defeat leaves Shaun McRae's side three points adrift and in deeper relegation trouble at the foot of the table.

The Wolves, who romped into a 22-6 interval lead, ran in nine tries to maintain their growing challenge for a play-off spot.

Penny notched three touchdowns in nine minutes as outclassed Salford fell apart.

The humiliation would have been bigger had Lee Briers not missed seven of his 10 goal attempts and Chris Bridge failed with another.

Warrington have now piled up 126 points against the Reds this year with the clubs meeting again on the final day of the Super League season.

Warrington welcomed back Kiwi Vinnie Anderson after a five-match absence with Great Britain centre Martin Gleeson also returning to turn in a polished show.

But Salford, thrashed 50-18 by Warrington at the Millennium Stadium in May, were missing in-form David Hodgson who had scored tries in three of the last four matches.

Salford could not have made a worse start with Michael Korkidas' spilled ball allowing Chris Bridge to scoot clear and send Jon Clarke over after less than two minutes.

Briers tagged on the conversion and only a desperate Ian Sibbit tackle kept out Ben Westwood before Bridge almost followed his own chip ahead to score.

Salford drew level with a sparkling solo try from Luke Dorn who sidestepped Anderson.

Westwood was fortunate to escape with only a ticking off for a high shot on Korkidas and it was the enthusiastic second rower who swept through Andrew Brocklehurst's tackle to take Briers' pass and make it 10-6.

Salford's cause was not helped when Mark Edmondson hobbled off although Warrington also lost Michael Sullivan with a suspected broken arm.

The ever-dangerous Bridge then brushed off Stuart Littler to send Henry Fa'afili over with Briers hitting the post for the second time with his conversion attempt.

But Briers, who also landed two penalties, made it 22-6 at the break after finishing off a superb move involving Gleeson and Stuart Reardon.

Salford held out until the 57th minute when Gleeson collected Bridge's pass to add a fifth try and prompt chants of "what a load of rubbish" from the visiting fans in the 9,634 crowd.

Gleeson's midfield burst created the chance for Penny to bag his first after 64 minutes, quickly followed by his second. But he saved best until last sprinting almost the full length of the field to chase Briers' kick.

Clarke went over four minutes from time for his second try to add further embarrassment.