London v Salford DITD match report

Salford Red Devil’s made it a hat trick of wins over London Broncos with a ruthless display in the capital. A near perfect first half of rugby league saw the visitors score six tries. The Broncos had no answer to the tempo and intensity of Ian Watson’s side. Mistakes were at a minimum as Salford looked capable of scoring on every set of six.

Krisnan Inu scored the games first try after latching on to a pin point Jackson Hastings kick. Soon after the lead was doubled when Mark Flanagan and Niall Evalds linked up superbly with a lovely exchange of passing. Flanagan finished off the move with Tui Lolohea converting the try, 0-12.

Josh Jones was a handful all afternoon with his powerful running and neat footwork baffling the jaded home sides defence. Jones went over from close range to score Salford’s third try after just sixteen minutes.

The Broncos first points of the match came somewhat against the run of play. Rhys Williams intercepted a wayward Lolohea pass to race ninety meters to score. Kieron Dixon added the goal 6-18.

Lolohea’s response was imminent with a deft kick through for full back Evalds to touch down. The Tongan international is finding his feet now and his hard work was rewarded with an interception try of his own in the thirty first minute.

The shell shocked Broncos struggled to build any sort of momentum as the first half was rounded off with yet another Salford try. Inu strolled in for his second try two minutes before the break after superb ball movement created the space for the Frenchman’s second try.

It didn’t take Salford long to make their mark on the second half. The tireless Hastings ran his blood to water yet again in an all action performance. The young Australian sliced through the fragile Broncos defence before sending Evalds over for his second try.

Kris Welham was next on the score sheet with a try. Welham who signed a contract for next season earlier in the week put in his usual accomplished display. A try in each of his last seven matches for Salford is a tremendous achievement and a run he will be eager to keep going.

London’s hard working forward Luke Yates gave the hosts some light relief with a try from close range to bring the scores to 12-48.

Hastings scored arguably the try of the match when he dropped his shoulder to shoot through a gap and back himself in a foot race to the line. A first class display from a first class player who is surely to stay well in the Man Of Steel Hunt. 

Despite such a dominant display from Salford, Danny Ward’s Broncos refused to throw the towel in and responded with two tries. 

Niall Evalds completed his hat trick five minutes from time as Salford made it ten tries on the day.

Derrell Olpherts was sin binned for a professional foul in the closing stages and on the back of that the hosts gave their supporters a crumb of comfort with the final try of the match from Robert Butler.

Speaking after the match Salford coach Ian Watson was delighted with his sides attitude and approach to the match. The twenty eight points conceded perhaps a slight concern but to score fifty eight away from home with a thirty point winning margin adds to Salford’s good points difference on the League table.

The Red Devil’s are back in action next Sunday when Huddersfield Giants visit The AJ Bell Stadium. It may be an old cliche again but Watson and his side will continue to focus on one game at a time. With seven wins on the road this season Salford continue to punch above their weight and their top five ambitions look alive and well. 

London Broncos 28 Salford 58.

Paul Whiteside.

Pictures by Steve McCormick 

Wigan v Salford DITD match report

It had certainly been a busy week for Salford and their coach Ian Watson.

The former Welsh International was announced as Great Britain assistant to Wayne Bennett at the start of the week. Fantastic news that just shows Ian’s good work at Salford is being well noticed throughout the sport as his reputation continues to grow. 

Another huge story over the past seven days has been Robert Lui and his move to Leeds. Salford’s ‘Star Man’ was a huge fans favourite at the club with over a hundred appearances under his belt. As part of the deal Tongan international Tui Lolohea has joined the Red Devil’s and he went straight into the starting line up in place of Lui at stand off for last nights clash at Wigan.

Lee Mossop and George Griffin missed out through injury. Adam Walker was also absent as he serves a two match suspension.

Ben Nakubuwai returned to the starting line up, Ryan Lannon kept his place and Ken Sio was on the bench after recovering from injury.

Their was a bitter blow for Wigan in the opening minutes when captain Sean O’Loughlin left the field with an injury. The veteran forward went straight down the tunnel and didn’t return to action all evening. 

Krisnan Inu kicked Salford in front from a penalty goal before Niall Evalds came up with a wonderful try saving tackle to stop Wigan forward Tony Clubb. 

The home side levelled the scores mid way through the first half from Chris Hankinson’s penalty goal 2-2.

Salford were struggling to find a rhythm, with errors creeping into the play and a poor completion rate Wigan took control. Derrell Olpherts knocked on deep in his on half and from the resulting scrum the pressure told when Wigan winger Liam Marshall scored the games opening try. The lead was stretched further when Joe Greenwood followed up a perfectly timed kick from George Williams to just about ground the ball before the dead ball line.

Salford got back into the game just before the break. Lolohea’s high kick caused panic from the Warriors as two players collided going the ball. From the scrum Jackson Hastings wonderful pass put Olpherts over right on the half time hooter. 10-6.

Wigan cut loose at the start of the second half with two quick tries. A break right through the middle of the Salford defence allowed Jarrod Sammut to kick through for Zak Hardacker who touched down under the posts. Shortly after Marshall grabbed his second try of the match which Hankinson converted to give the Warriors a comfortable 22-6 lead.

The Marshall try certainly came at a cost for Salford, moments earlier Lolohea had a try turned down by referee Chris Kendal for a knock on which seemed a real 50/50 call.

Wigan were very methodical, completing their sets while not being too adventurous. On the other hand Salford looked lost on attack at times, with no real fluidity or cohesion. 

Gil Dudson and Romain Navarrette we’re sin binned with ten minutes to go after a heated exchange and a few punches were thrown. 

The hard working Hastings put Kris Welham over for a try with another super pass, his vision and speed of thought at times is remarkable.

Salford then threatened a grand stand come back but were denied a try as Hastings was called back for a forward pass.

The last word went to The Warriors, young forward Oliver Partington crashing over, Hankinson converting. 28-12.

A disappointment Ian Watson speaking after the match was unhappy at his sides error count and completion rate. “To many errors and we ended up losing the energy battle. They were better coming out of yardage than what we were”.

Speaking about new addition Lolohea, Watson said “Tui has come in today and Tui has done great. Everything we’ve asked of him he’s done. Obviously we were a bit disjointed in our attack, we need to fix that up.”

Salford are back in action next Thursday when they return to The AJ Bell Stadium to face Huddersfield Giants.

Paul Whiteside.

Pictures by Steve McCormick 

Salford Red Devils v Wakefield Match report

After yesterday’s surprise results in Super League just six points separated the play off positions and bottom place. Danny Ward’s London Broncos were superb to thump Catalans in Perpignan and new Hull Kingston Rovers boss Tony Smith shocked his old club Warrington. This heaped even more pressure on Salford and Wakefield with both sides desperate not to get sucked in to the relegation dog fight.

The Red Devils and Trinity had lost their last four matches. Something had to give today. Salford coach Ian Watson made some changes, Daniel Murray and Adam Walker missed out. Lee Mossop returned along with Mark Flanagan, Logan Tomkins started at hooker. Ken Sio injured last week at Hull was replaced by Derrell Olpherts.

Salford scored the games first points after Robert Lui set up Jake Bibby with a super pass to allow the winger to squeeze in at the corner.

Tensions were high and tempers flared in the opening stages with the referee struggling to control the two sides.

Jacob Miller levelled the scores after Bibby failed to deal with a high kick. Danny Brough edged Trinity ahead with the conversion 4-6.

The visitors lead didn’t last long, Lui’s clever reverse kick found Niall Evalds who raced in to score. Salford made it back to back tries when the re start was kicked out on the full. Lui and Evalds combined to put Bibby in again.

The introduction of Joey Lussick offered a new attacking dimension for Ian Watson’s side and the young Australian hooker scored one of his trade mark tries before the break to give Salford a commanding 20-6 lead.

A poor start to the second half allowed Trinity to get their foot in the door. 

The Red Devils were half asleep as the kick off was allowed to go over the dead ball line. Wakefield built pressure with three sets camped on Salford’s line.

Ben Jones Bishop grabbed the try 20-12.

At times Lui looked unplayable with his creative edge and was constant attacking threat. Salford’s number six was rewarded with a try after he followed up his own kick.

Wakefield wouldn’t go away and hit back through Millers second try. A mistake at the back from Evalds allowing a simple score for the Wakefield stand off.

Holding a ten point advantage going in to the final quarter nerves were eased when Jackson Hastings set up Kris Welham with a delightful kick which completely fooled The Trinity defence.

Jones Bishop grabbed his second try twelve minutes from time but that was as good as it got for Wakefield.

Salford finished strongly with Lui provider again this time throwing an outrageous dummy before setting up Evalds for his second try and that try was his 100th career try. 

Shortly after Josh Jones and Hastings linked up well to send Evalds over for his hat trick. A wonderful support player who always seems to be there backing up bagging a well deserved treble to cap off a much needed victory.

A relieved Salford coach Ian Watson was in positive mood after the match.

“ I thought we controlled the whole tempo of the game on the front foot.

We needed a real focus on our start to the game and we made a few changes to get that.”

One blow for Salford was an injury to George Griffin. The all action second row man had is arm in a sling and may have torn a bicep.

The Red Devil’s leap frogged Wigan and Wakefield to go sixth in the table. 

Victory at home to Castleford next Friday will see Salford move in to fifth place. That is a game not to be missed and gets under way at The AJ Bell Stadium At 7:45pm

Final score Salford 44 Wakefield 20.

Paul Whiteside.

Pictures by Steve McCormick 

Salford Red Devil’s 38 Wakefield 4

Salford Red Devil’s made it back to back wins to leap frog Wakefield Trinity on the Super League table with a tremendous performance tonight. 

It was a perfect start with a try from Junior Sa’u after just 90 seconds. The Red Devil’s came out of the blocks at a fair old pace tonight. 

Wakefield however asked plenty of questions of Salford’s defence with six sets of six on The Red Devil’s line in the opening 15 minutes. Ian Watson prides his side on there defence and the desire and commitment his side showed tonight was quite remarkable.

On the half hour mark Josh Wood made an instant impact off the bench linking up well with Daniel Murray to bust Wakefield down the middle. Wood was caught by a high tackle with Robert Lui opting to kick the penalty 8-0.

Lui hobbled off with a calf injury just before the break.

Salford were already missing Josh Jones, Lee Mossop, Lama Tasi and Weller Hauraki through injury and with Lui out of action things were getting tough.

This Salford side how ever is made of real stern stuff and turned the game on it’s head blowing Wakefield away with a perfect second half display of devastating attacking rugby league. 

Niall Evalds quick thinking from a tap saw him race 60 yards with the crowd on there feet. Reece lynne managed to track back but his deliberate holding down earned him a yellow card. Salford played it very cautiously by taking the two points on offer. Tyrone McCarthy kicking the goal 10-0.

Moments later McCarthy hit a lovely short pass to go crashing over for a try. Converting his own try to extend the lead to 16-0.

Two minutes later the destruction continued when Ryan Lannon powered over. McCarthy failed to convert but Salford were 20-0 up and very good value for it.

Joe Arundel grabbed a try to get Wakefield on the scoresheet but that was soon cancelled out by Jake Bibby who’s super finish in the corner after neat passing from Evalds and Welham provided the try of the night 24-4.

George Griffin charged over off Logan Tomkins short ball 12 minutes from time before Bibby raced in for his second try. 

Jack Littlejohn had a fantastic second half and set up the final try for Greg Johnson with a teasing kick. 

Ian Watson was delighted after the match. Thrilled to score 38 points but even more so keeping Wakefield to just four points. Speaking after the match “ the boys should be proud of there efforts today, I know what these lads can do and how they can play. Our defence is the first thing we look to, the boys all understand there role and there doing it really well.”

Salford are back in action next Thursday at the AJ Bell Stadium when they host league leaders St. Helens.

Final score Salford 38 Wakefield Trinity 4.

Paul Whiteside.

Pictures by Steve McCormick 📸