As the two sides came out to warm up the sun shone and the temperature felt pretty mild! Not quite warm yet but not far off!
Leigh arrived on the back of a thumping win at Hull and a victory over Featherstone last weekend in the Challenge Cup.
Salford were well and truly second best at Hull Kingston Rovers last Friday and Paul Rowley’s side were looking for a response against his former club. Rowley played for Leigh in two significant spells and returned to coach them before leaving for Toronto.
Leigh won this fixture last season in a very close match 22-24. Their previous victory in the League at Salford had come in 1983!
The two sides met three times last year with every one a close encounter, that was once again expected today!
The playing surface was immaculate as the crowd anticipated an exciting afternoon of Rugby League.
Salford gave a debut to Joe Mellor who started at hooker. Amir Bourouh and Chris Atkin made the bench. Shane Wright started at prop alongside Jack Ormondroyd. Oliver Partington was at loose forward.
Leigh started Lachlan Lam with Ben McNamara on the bench. Former Salford players Ed Chamberlain and Gareth O’Brien started for the Leopards with Ben Nakubuwai on the bench.
The first real action saw Lam sin binned for a professional foul on Ryan Brierley. Marc Sneyd took the two points on offer from the penalty.
The Red Devils made the extra man count when Brierley ghosted over through a big gap. Mellor was busy at dummy half and caused problems for his former club who seemed to struggle to contain Salford early on. The home side dominated field position and territory but it was Leigh that scored next. A neat move through the middle set up the opportunity and Umyla Hanley finished well out wide. 8-4.
Sneyd and Cade Cust combined brilliantly to set up a try out of nothing for Brierley. Sneyd converted again to open up a ten point lead and Salford began to look in complete control. Another try followed straight after when Tim Lafai put Ethan Ryan in after good work from Joe Shorrocks. The faultless Sneyd made it four from four with his conversions, 20-4.
Right on the half time hooter Brierley was sin binned for a professional foul. Looking at the replays I think the ball would of gone dead so it seemed a needless penalty to give away. The Leopards took the two points on offer to go in trailing 20-6.
Salford had a storm to weather with Brierley in the sin bin for the first ten minutes of the second half. Fantastic defence kept Josh Charnley out before Hanley was thwarted on the opposite flank by another terrific cover tackle.
The Red Devils worked hard in defence taking the sting out of the match and were rewarded with another try when Sneyd and Partington linked up. Sneyd kept his composure to score a well deserved try and yes you guessed it he converted it too. 26-6.
Leigh were desperately seeking points now as they stared down the barrel of a big defeat. To their credit they never gave up and when Chamberlain broke Lam was in support to score. The Leopards needed a big set following that try and when Dan Norman dropped Lam’s pass from the kick off Salford were given some breathing space.
Ryan was caught out of possession by a looping pass to gift Hanley his second try and this reduced the deficit to ten points. Leigh could sense a comeback and forced a drop out. Salford were flapping and the next set would be a pivotal one. Sneyd’s drop out was a belter, Charnley made a porridge of it and Salford came away with possession.
Ryan scored his second try which ultimately killed off Leigh’s chances of a grandstand comeback. The final try though went to Hanley who sealed his hat trick late on.
Salford we’re worthy winners and it was the perfect tonic after last Friday’s cup defeat. Four wins from their opening six matches is a very positive start for the Red Devils who travel to Castleford next Friday to face a Tigers side who have lost all six matches so far. It promises to be another huge test of character but Salford are more than capable.
Salford 32 Leigh 22.
Paul Whiteside.
Big thanks to Steve McCormick for the photos.
Paul Whiteside Rugby League 