Paul Whiteside looks back a the famous away win against Leeds Rhinos.
It was Easter Monday 13th April 2009. After beating Warrington in a thrilling match at The Willows on good Friday Salford travelled to Headingly to face Leeds. The team line up was as follows
Stefan Ratchford
John Wilshire
Stuart Littler
Jordan Turner
Mark Henry
Jeremy Smith
Richie Myler
Craig Stapleton
Malcolm Alker
Rob Parker
Luke Swain
Ray Cashmere
Luke Adamson
Subs Robbie Paul Ian Sibbit Phillip Leuluai Lee Jewitt
Salford got off to the perfect start with John Wilshire touching down after a clever kick from Jeremy Smith. Soon after the home fans were silent again as Mark Henry raced in to put Salford 10-0 up after 15minutes. A few fortunate incidents went Salfords way with Leeds having a Danny McGuire try disallowed and I could just sense it might be are day as Richie Myler broke from his own half as the Salford faithful at the scoreboard end cheered him to the line we went in 6-16 up at half time.
The ever so clinical Leeds looked out of sorts and now Salford had a great chance of an upset! Salford got the first try of the second half as Richie Mylers perfect grubber kick was pouched by Robbie Paul to extend the lead even further. How ever Leeds bit on there gum shields and really fought back hard threatening to spoil the upset with try's from Ryan Hall, Keith Senior and Jamie Peacock. It was Salfords day and a great Easter was confirmed as Jordan Turner took an interception and raced away to score much to the delight of Salfords support who were dancing on the terraces. A fantastic moment! Leeds 20 Salford 30!
"Years of let downs and disappointments washed away on that sunny spring afternoon. I was very proud that day as I walked out of the ground I felt ten foot tall beaming with pride"
Paul Whiteside
It was a great Easter that year. We had just come back up from the 1st division the year before and were making steady progress. My Dad used to tell me all the stories of trips to Headingly in the league and big cup games through the 70s and how we always seemed to blow it at that ground. It was almost like a curse. I experienced it many times seeing us hammered there numerous times from the late 80s and also a few close encounters including an agonising 39-38 defeat in 2002. .Had my heart broke there in 1998 against Sheffield in the challenge cup semi final when I could almost touch Wembley. I was well aware are last victory there was 5th February 1977 and a fantastic 13-28 victory.
My dad was on the supporters club coach that day and I knew what winning there again would mean to him. When I looked in his eyes at full time after turners try it was a strange moment a bit surreal really. You could see his passion and delight. Years of let downs and disappointments washed away on that sunny spring afternoon. I was very proud that day as I walked out of the ground I felt ten foot tall beaming with pride. I think the hammerings make you stronger as a supporter they have done with me But days like that and the recent victory of saints are special let's hope there's more this season. I think the future might not be to bad for us.
Dan Robinson looks back at Salfords famous challenge cup victory against Wigan in 1996
Sunday 11th February 1996 was the day Wigans dominance in the challenge cup was hit by a blast from "little" Salford as many called us in the run up to that day. With a pact crowd at the willows there was excitement in the air from all concerned as an upset may have been on the cards.
The Reds led by former Wigan favourite Andy Gregory came in to the game with lots of confidence and with former Wigan players, Steve Hampson, Sam Panapa, Scott Naylor and Steve Blakeley in the Reds side there was certainly some added spice to the game. Wigan were obvious favourites with Andy Farrell, Henry Paul, Martin Offiah and the rest of the big guns on display.
The hooter sounded and Steve Blakeley got the game under way. I remember the first hit up by Scott Quinnell knocking over our defence like skittles. It was the Reds who got the first try of the game with skipper David Young pouncing on a Mark Lee grubber kick to crash over to the left of the post infront of the traveling supporters. Next to score for the Reds was Scott Naylor, Steve Blakeley carving through the Wigan defence and being tackled 10 metres out. Peter Edwards at hooker passed the ball to Andy Burgess who found Mark Lee who then dropped the ball off to Naylor who crashed over the line.
Just before the break I remember Steve Hampson trying to take a drop goal about 20-25 metres out and missed really wide of the post. The second half started pretty much the same with Cliff Eccles and David Young making some good metres forward which led to our next try and for me was the try of the match. Blakeley on to Lee who gave the ball back to Blakeley then found Paul "buffer" Forber with a short pass who offloaded the ball to Scott Naylor. He broke through the Wigan defence like a knife through butter and even though he lost a boot he crashed over right infront of me and my family to take the score line further in the Reds favour.
"What a day, what a team, what a memory"
Dan Robinson
The Reds had a couple of tries disallowed on the day and the first was from Steve Hampson who was denied a try against his former club. The next score for the Reds was all down to Mark Lee. 5th tackle on half way Lee gave an outrageous dummy to fool Henry Paul and the Wigan defence who were expecting a kick and ran a good 30-40 metres before throwing a long pass out to Scott Martin who sold Gary Connelly with another dummy to go over under the sticks and the dream of the next round started to become more real in many Reds eyes. Then came Salford's 2nd disallowed try (which to this day I was sure it wasn't a forward pass.) Scott Martin broke through a dog legged tired Wigan defence but was tackled by Henry Paul. The ball came to Lee on the right hand side of the willows end line and a cheeky pass to Darren Rogers should of put the score to 30-10 with 4 minutes remaining.
The referee at first gave the try but after consulting the touch judge disallowed the try. The final hooter sounded and the pitch was covered with happy Salford fans. Salford fans and players became one on that day and I will never forget what that game did to Wigan. Another memory after the game was being in the willows and the players being carried in by supporters to rupturing applause and supporters asking Wigan fans for their final tickets as they wasn't going to Wembley. Final score Salford 26-16 Wigan. What a day, what a team, what a memory.
On to the saints game, well what a performance from 1-17. Brought back a lot of memories from the Wigan game which was another complete performance. Ben Murdoch Masilla looks a real handful and Robert Lui was outstanding but it was a real team effort which must be applauded. Roll on next week against Widnes where we will hopefully see another complete performance
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