The Entertainers put on a show at the Halliwell Jones Stadium, as they completed a Betfred Super League double over Warrington Wolves.
After a weeks’ rest, Paul Rowley’s side were looking to maintain a spot in the top six against the Wire, who were wounded after Wembley heartbreak last Saturday.
Our Head Coach handed debuts to new signing, Loghan Lewis and young talent, Harvey Wilson, whilst Joe Mellor replaced Joe Shorrocks at hooker.
Both sides began the contest trading sets at a comfortable pace, but it was the hosts who were slowly gaining territory with some strong carries upfield.
A tricky grubber and a quick chase threatened to pin Chris Hankinson in-goal, but the fullback expertly flicked the ball out to Ethan Ryan and got us back on the front foot.
Ryan made a quick break down the right a few tackles later, and it wasn’t long after that passage of play that the Reds were over for their first try of the evening.
Spreading the play left, Sam Stone ran a perfect line to pierce a hole in the Wire defence and find Macdonald in support, who cut inside Matt Dufty to fire Salford into the lead.
One almost became two via a Tim Lafai interception, but the Samoan was caught in two minds when bearing down on the try-line and allowed Warrington time to get back, and make the tackle.
That break didn’t come without reward, however. Stone had the ball stripped by Dufty trying to get the play moving and Sneyd took the opportunity to extend our advantage to eight from the kicking tee.
It didn’t take long for the same source to break open Wire’s line once more; triggering another stunning, team try from inside our own half.
Sneyd’s flick and Lafai’s tip sent Deon Cross racing down the left. The winger backed his pace and sold a neat dummy to Dufty before strolling over for a try.
The man in support there was Sneyd, as he was for the majority of the evening – and he finally got his moment on 23 minutes.
Skipper, Kallum Watkins was the man on this occasion to run a brilliant line and find Ryan with an offload. The winger pumped a fake pass to Sneyd – which drew Dufty in – before releasing the halfback to score under the sticks.
His conversion and an intelligent one-pointer on the hooter handed us a 19-0 half-time lead.
The second forty almost got off to a perfect start when Hankinson slid over, but after a video referee check, it was called a no-try for obstruction by Sneyd in the build-up.
It was a moment that shifted the momentum slightly, with Tai scoring for the Wire a few minutes later.
Stefan Ratchford found his winger in the corner via a chipped kick, but there was doubt on the grounding due a heroic effort by Deon Cross.
After a video referee check that took around eight minutes, the try was allowed to stand.
One quickly became two for the hosts, but this time it was from our own error. Watkins’ attempted tip was caught by Toby King and he released Matty Ashton for an easy try.
It was a flurry of tries the Red Devils probably didn’t deserve to concede, but it certainly failed to knock their confidence and another fantastic try all-but sealed the two points.
Sneyd was the provider again with an inch-perfect kick for Cross who, with a superman-like dive, notched his second of the evening in the left corner.
Our sublime number seven converted with some style from the touchline.
There was time on the full-time hooter for Tai to score a second after half-break from Josh Drinkwater, but it was only a consolation and the Red Devils secured a massive win over a fellow playoff chasing side.
It doesn’t get any easier, however, with St Helens in town next Sunday for an Armed Forces Day blockbuster at the Salford Community Stadium.
MATCH FACTS:
Salford line-up: Chris Hankinson, Ethan Ryan, Nene Macdonald, Tim Lafai, Deon Cross, Chris Atkin, Marc Sneyd, Brad Singleton, Joe Mellor, Shane Wright, Sam Stone, Kallum Watkins, Ollie Partington.
Interchanges: Joe Shorrocks, Gil Dudson, Harvey Wilson, Loghan Lewis.
Tries: Nene Macdonald, Deon Cross (2), Marc Sneyd.
Conversions: Marc Sneyd (4/5) & 1 drop-goal.
Warrington Wolves line-up: Matt Dufty, Rodrick Tai, Toby King, Connor Wrench, Matty Ashton, Stefan Ratchford, Josh Drinkwater, Zane Musgrove, Danny Walker, Paul Vaughan, Matty Nicholson, Adam Holroyd, Ben Currie.
Interchanges: James Harrison, Joe Bullock, Sam Powell, Max Wood.
Tries: Rodrick Tai (2), Matty Ashton.
Conversions: Stefan Ratchford (0/1), Josh Drinkwater (1/2)
HT: 0-19
Photo credit: Steve McCormick & James Giblin.
