A youthful looking Salford Red Devils side were beaten by Wigan Warriors in Round 27.
On a night where the hosts clinched the League Leaders’ Shield, Paul Rowley handed eight Betfred Super League debuts to lads who represent the badge with immense pride across the 80 minutes.
Some notable senior players all returned back into the starting thirteen; including Amir Bourouh, Cade Cust, Chris Atkin and Adam Sidlow.
A very popular member of the dressing room, Sidlow was also making his 150th Super League Appearance – donning the red and white of Salford for 91 of them.
Making the step-up from Reserve grade rugby was Ethan Fitzgerald, Billy Glover, Josh Wagstaffe, Charlie McCurrie, Charlie Glover, Leunbou Barydel-Wells and Jack Gatcliffe, with Jamie Pye also making a maiden senior appearance.
From the start it was clear Wigan had their sights set on a second consecutive League Leaders’ Shield and Billy Glover made a nice interception to deny the hosts’ first foray forward.
Coming forward again, some fast hands drew in the Salford players and left a clear entry to the try line for Liam Marshall. Adam Keighran added the first of his ten extras from the kicking tee.
Wigan hit again shortly after. Shifting the ball from Salford’s right, it was Jai Field who finished off the try with a sliding finish on the left edge.
Field again made a break, but this time Chris Atkin produced a superb cover tackle. A quick play-the-ball allowed Bevan French to send a bobbling grubber behind Salford’s defence, but Fitzgerald was the man who stopped Zach Eckersley from grounding.
The Warriors continued their immense pressure in attack. Again, it was the fast hands down the right edge that created the space and French capitalised to score under the sticks.
Not long later, a short Salford drop-out was unsuccessful and Wigan cleaned up for Harry Smith to send Eckersley over in the corner.
From the restart, Atkin’s deep kick caused Smith to slip into touch and hand Salford a first real opportunity on Wigan’s line.
Salford began to work it through the hands but a loose pass allowed centre, Jake Wardle to scoop up the ball up and set off to score a 80 metre try.
Pye, who was impressive on debut, came the closest to scoring for the Red Devils with a crashing effort, but was just short under a few Wigan challenges.
The Warriors hit straight away in the second-half and some clean hands from French opened up the Salford defence. Field the man to score his second and extend the hosts’ advantage.
Minutes later, Cade Cust’s loose pass allowed Marshall to score a carbon copy of Wardle’s first-half effort, despite a heroic chase-back from Harvey Wilson, who unfortunately injured himself in the process.
A few plays later, Wigan went over again and it was Kruise Leeming who capitalised on a neat team move down the right edge.
The Reds showed plenty of grit in their defensive efforts, but a missed tackle gave French enough room to create a try for Leeming’s quick-fire double.
Junior Nsemba was a running threat all night and he finally burst through the line to create a try of his own – Field the man in support to complete his hat-trick.
The scoring was rounded-off with virtually the last play of the game, with French jinking past a few challenges to score his second and Wigan’s 11th of a comprehensive victory.
With the regular season done and dusted, Rowley’s men – who will be well-rested – now wait for other results to confirm their eliminator opponent’s next Friday night.
MATCH FACTS:
Salford line-up: Chris Atkin, Ethan Fitzgerald, Billy Glover, Josh Wagstaffe, Nathan Connell, Cade Cust, Kai Morgan, Jack Ormondroyd, Amir Bourouh, Adam Sidlow, Ben Hellewell, Charlie McCurrie, Harvey Wilson
Interchanges: James Pye, Charlie Glover, Leunbou Barydel-Wells, Jack Gatcliffe.
Wigan Warriors line-up: Jai Field, Zach Eckersley, Adam Keighran, Jake Wardle, Liam Marshall, Bevan French, Harry Smith, Ethan Havard, Kruise Leeming, Luke Thompson, Junior Nsemba, Liam Farrell, Kaide Ellis.
Interchanges: Liam Bryne, Patrick Mago, Tyler Dupree, Tom Forber.
Tries: Liam Marshall (2), Jai Field (3), Beven French (2), Zach Eckersley, Jake Wardle, Kruise Leeming (2).
Conversions: Adam Keighran (10/11)
HT: 28-0
Photo credit: Steve McCormick, James Giblin.
