Salford travelled to Craven Park for there day of destiny! There was a real sense of nervous tension outside the ground before kickoff but a great site to see the Salford coaches arriving in numbers! The Robins made the better start putting Salford under pressure and Adam walker powered over for the opening try. Josh Mantellato kicked the goal 6-0. Things got better for rovers when Josh Mantellato finished brilliantly in the corner some how managing to stay in the field of play. He missed the kick 10-0.
Salford really had to weather the storm now and dug in to hold there line well. Ben Murdoch Masila charged over to get the Red Devils on the score board. Gareth O Brien failed to convert 10-4. Robert Lui then had a try disallowed by the video referee. Mantellato looked to have spilled the ball in the tackle but it was adjudged to be a ball steal.
This spurred Salford on, they moved the ball superbly and Niall Evalds finished off a sweeping move to score in the corner. Niall had come off the bench to replace the injured Junior Sau. O Brien kicked off the touch line as the Salford support roared with delight 10-10.
Just before half time Rovers were awarded a soft penalty and Mantellato booted the two points 12-10 at the break. It was a very tight opening to the second half with neither team wanting to give anything away. Thomas Mimms score 15 minutes in to the second half with Mantellato's goal giving the rovers an 8 point buffer at 18-10! Michael Dobson tried everything and again was magnificent. Terry Campese then kicked a huge 40-20kick and hull kr looked for the knock out punch. Thankfully Salford survived with Niall Evalds very cool and calm in defence.
As the clock ticked down in the last five minutes thoughts went to a derby next year with old foe Swinton Lions and our future looked very uncertain. Josh Griffin had been a real hand full all afternoon released a lovely pass to send Evalds over for his second try, O Brien rushed and missed the kick 18-14. With around 50 seconds remaining it seemed to late.
The Robins kicked off and Salford had to throw caution to the wind.Josh Griffin made a break and puts Evalds away, the Salford supporters were on there feet. Evalds cuts inside but is brought down 20 yards short. This will be the last play as the ball is moved right, Mark Flanagan throws the best pass of his career to Ben Murdoch Masila the hooter sounds... the gaps is there... he finds Greg Johnson and it's a miracle!!! Jonson scores the most important try of his life to tie the match 18-18! It's bedlam in the north and south stands! O Brien will kick for the match off the touch line!
It misses and it will be golden point extra time but Salford have the momentum Rovers look shattered! The players and supporters have a quick breather. Salford win the toss and receive the kick off! Rovers fly out keen in defence as Salford drive the ball forward in a conservative fashion. It's the last tackle the ball finds O Brien just inside the rovers half he attempts the drop goal, it's probably the sweetest connection he's ever made with a ball and it sails over from 50 meters out!!! The scenes in the crowd are amazing as the Salford supporters flood the pitch! There's a huge sense of shock, elation and relief from the traveling Red Army who believed that the game had gone 2 minutes earlier.
There are unplesent scenes between two small groups of opposition fans on the field after the game but the greatest RL comeback possibly of all time should be the story that comes out of yesterdays game.
We knew this group of players could do the job! Some one said to me after the game "things like this don't happen to us". Well they did today.
Delighted for Ian Watson a true gentleman who has led Salford with real pride and dignity. Man City had the Sergio moment, Man United had the Solkskjaer moment now Salford have the Gareth O Brien! Let's hope we carry this momentum into next year! Final score Hull kr 18 Salford 19 Paul Whiteside away day red 😀
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