Salford Red Devils recorded back-to-back victories tonight with a 30-14 win against the Castleford Tigers in Round 13 of the Betfred Super League.
Building on a magnificent display against Leeds the week prior, Paul Rowley’s men have done the double over Lee Radford’s side and moved onto 10 points for the season.
It was the visitors struck who struck first. After a set restart, Castleford gained yards down the field and created an overload on the left for Ryan Hampshire to stroll over.
After a back and forth next 15 minutes, Salford levelled the scores with a neat piece of play on the Castleford try-line. The ball was worked from right to left on the last before Marc Sneyd sent a grubber kick towards the charging Tim Lafai. The Samoan, in combination with Harvey Livett, managed to slam the ball down.
Former Red Devil Gareth O’Brien brought it back to 6-6 minutes later, opting to take the two after Salford were penalised 20 metres out.
The hosts regained the lead with a slick passing move. After Brodie Croft was denied just before the try line, Salford played the ball quickly, and Morgan Escare’s late offload to Joe Burgess allowed the winger to skip past his man and slide over on the left.
The same man doubled his tally for the night when Castleford lost possession in their own half. Livett picked the ball up and sent it towards Lafai, who charged at the opposition and flicked the ball left to allow Burgess to use his pace and extend Salford’s advantage.
Half-time: Salford Red Devils 16 – 6 Castleford Tigers
Castleford started the second 40 on the front foot and made their pressure count when the ball was worked left for Balami Qareqare to slide past the last-ditch tackle of Escare and cut Salford’s lead.
Salford were getting some joy on the break, and when Andy Ackers broke through the Castleford line, the pace of Escare gained the Red Devils valuable metres. A quick play the ball created an overload on the left and Kallum Watkins found Deon Cross in space to go over.
Qareqare was looking threatening on the left and scored his second of the night when he acrobatically leaped the valiant challenge of Cross in the corner. However, the visitors were soon down to 12-men when Adam Milner saw yellow.
The host piled on the pain and made the extra man advantage count. Again the ball was worked left and Lafai’s excellent offload allowed Burgess the easy task of touching down his hat-trick.
Full-time: Salford Red Devils 30-14 Castleford Tigers
Salford: Escare, Sio, Cross, Lafai, Burgess, Croft, Sneyd, Ormondroyd, Ackers, Akauola, Livett, Watkins, Taylor, Dupree, Addy, Bourouh, Lannon.
Castleford: Hampshire, Qareqare, Fonua, Mamo, Olpherts, Trueman, O’Brien, Smith, McShane, Griffin, Edwards, Lawler, Westerman, Matagi, Massey, Blair, Milner.
Salford tries: Lafai (18′), Burgess (30′, 38′, 70′), Cross (60′)
Castleford tries: Hampshire (3′), Qareqare (48′, 62′)
Salford goals: Sneyd (4/5)
Salford penalty-goal: (1/1)
Castleford goals: O’Brien (0/1), Hampshire (0/2)
Castleford penalty-goal: O’Brien (1/1)
Referee:
Image credit: Steve McCormick
