Ahead of tomorrow’s Betfred Super League Round 12 clash with Wakefield Trinity we take a look back to a memorable victory for the Red Devils over this weekend’s opponents back in 2014.
The game saw the newly-named Salford Red Devils start their 2014 season off with a narrow victory in front of a record crowd at the The Salford Stadium following Dr Marwan Koukash bringing in 14 new arrivals in the off-season.
Kick-off was delayed by ten minutes to allow all the fans to enter the AJ Bell stadium and it was the Red Devils who made the better start.
Gareth Hock opened the scoring for Salford as he was the quickest to react to Greg Johnson’s flick back. Fellow forwards Harrison Hansen and Andrew Dixon both also found themselves on the scoresheet to help the hosts race into an 18-0 lead.
However, tries for Trinity debutants Matty Ryan and Pita Godinet began a Wakefield fightback and when Ali Lauiti’iti went over Salford began to get nervous. But, in the end, it was Jake Mullaney’s three successful conversions compared to Paul Sykes solitary goal that were the difference between the sides.
Salford Red Devils Head Coach Brian Noble said: “I was biting my fingernails. I thought Wakefield were great in the second half and we didn’t have any ball. I was nervous.
“It’s a great lesson for us. I am absolutely delighted with the win and delighted with the win and delighted with the day and the crowd.
“To have the game delayed getting people in the place was fabulous.”
The teams that day:
Salford: Mullaney; Johnson, Walton, Sa’u, Meli; Chase, Smith; Morley, Lee, Tasi; Hansen, Hock, Puletua.
Interchanges: D. Griffin, Dixon, McPherson, Howarth.
Wakefield: Mathers; Fox, Collis, Keinhorst, Lyne; Sykes, Godinet; Anderson, McShane, Smith, Lauiti’iti, Kirkmond, Washbrook.
Interchanges: Raleigh, Ryan, Tautai, Walshaw.
