Salford Red Devils equalled a Club record of nine home wins in a Betfred Super League season with a gritty 22-16 win over Leeds Rhinos.
It’s a victory which sees the Reds open a six point gap from seventh and inch ever-closer to securing a spot in the playoffs.
There was just one change from the side who beat Castleford Tigers a week prior, with Loghan Lewis replacing Joe Bullock at prop.
The atmosphere certainly had a big game feel, but it was the Rhinos who came out of the blocks firing.
After a positive set for Salford, Tim Lafai nailed Lachie Miller from a kick chase, leaving the fullback flat on his back. Referee, Tom Grant deemed it a dangerous tackle and sent the Samoan for ten.
Leeds took advantage of the numbers and halfback, Matt Frawley found space on the left edge to sell a dummy and slide over to open the scoring.
One quickly became two when Paul Momirovski broke the line, this time on the right edge and had winger, Alfie Edgell on his outside to send him for a stroll-in.
The Reds needed to pick themselves up and were given a boost with Lafai’s return to play and Rhyse Martin’s subsequent yellow for repeated penalties.
Nene Macdonald – against his former club – was certainly up for the battle, but was denied what would have been Salford’s first try of the afternoon when Kallum Watkins’ pass was deemed forward.
It was the skipper who eventually got us on the board after a period of sustained pressure. Joe Shorrocks was quick from the ruck and Ollie Partington slipped Watkins through with a neat short pass.
The Rhinos hit back straight away via former Red Devil, Brodie Croft, who evaded a few Salford challenges to scurry over in the corner.
Again we had to respond and Marc Sneyd almost picked the lock with a darting run – via Deon Cross’ knock-back – but was held up by some solid Leeds scramble defence.
There was no shock when Watkins crashed over for his second, minutes later. The skipper was outstanding across the contest and a worthy recipient of the Club’s and Sky Sports’ Man of the Match.
In what was almost a carbon copy of his first effort, Watkins ran a perfect line to pierce a gap in the Leeds defence and stretch over.
Macdonald thought he’d handed Salford the lead right on half-time, claiming and grounding Sneyd’s chip, but the video referee overturned the on-field decision of try for double movement.
The second forty was slightly less chaotic on the scoreboard, but certainly not without incident.
Watkins was inches from bagging a hat-trick, bursting his way through the Rhinos line, but was clawed back just in time as he reached to touch down.
There was some joy for the Rhinos amidst a period of huge Salford pressure. Momirovski intercepted a loose pass and broke 60 metres before being denied by some great cover work by Joe Mellor.
The hooker certainly sped-up the ruck and was causing Leeds problems with his deceptiveness – causing what turned out to be the game-breaking try
Darting from dummy-half, Mellor found Jayden Nikorima on the short side and he evaded two challenges before slipping our number 24 through to race away to the South Stand.
As has been the norm all season, Sneyd’s kicking from the tee was vital and two further penalty-goals – including one from halfway – opened up a six-point gap.
It was one that proved insurmountable for the Rhinos, who failed to break down a stubborn Devils defence.
The importance of the victory speaks for itself, but with sitting in fourth place at the time of writing, the Reds are definitely looking up and not down as we travel to face St Helens next Thursday.
MATCH FACTS:
Salford line-up: Ryan Brierley, Ethan Ryan, Nene Macdonald, Tim Lafai, Deon Cross, Jayden Nikorima, Marc Sneyd, Brad Singleton, Joe Shorrocks, Joe Bullock, Sam Stone, Kallum Watkins, Ollie Partington.
Interchanges: Shane Wright, Chris Hankinson, Joe Mellor, Loghan Lewis.
Tries: Kallum Watkins (2), Joe Mellor.
Conversions: Marc Sneyd (5/5)
Leeds Rhinos line-up: Lachie Miller, Alfie Edgell, Paul Momirovski, Harry Newman, Ash Handley, Brodie Croft, Matt Frawley, Mikolaj Oledzki, Andy Ackers, Mickael Goudemand, James McDonnell, Rhyse Martin, Cameron Smith.
Interchanges: Jarred O’Connor, Sam Lisone, Justin Sangare, James Donaldson.
Tries: Matt Frawley, Alfie Edgell, Brodie Croft.
Conversions: Rhyse Martin (2/2), Lachie Miller (0/1)
HT: 12-16
Photo credit: Steve McCormick & James Giblin
