Salford travelled to the Leigh sports village for there final match of the regular season. Sitting third in the league table the Red Devil's were on course for there highest league position in 41 years. A fourth place finish in 1980 and 5th in 2006 the highlights since the glory years of the mid 70s.
On a really wet miserable night the rain poured down for most of the match making ball handling very tricky. Leigh started the game with a real gusto and plenty of enthusiasm. Greg McNally scoring from a set scrum to catch Salford cold out wide. Josh drinkwater added the conversation 6-0.
Michael Dobson then came up with an error, Ben Crooks unlucky not to score as he hacked a kick on but just ran out of room to ground the ball. 20 minutes in and the centurions doubled there advantage when Atela Vea charged over drinkwaters kick made it 12-0.
Salford were really lacklustre and disjointed. It was a half of few chances with the amount of mistakes. Mitch Brown was pulled back for a forward pass to deny a third Leigh try. Then came a crucial point in the match. Salford's best chance with Ben Murdoch Masila breaking through finding Greg Johnson with a lovely pass, Greg looked inside for Dobson who put the pass down. Moments later soft defence out wide again allows Leigh centre Langi to score. Drinkwater kicks superbly off the touch line 18-0 at half time.
The second half didn't really get any better for Salford. Worryingly Robert Lui was helped from the field with an ankle injury in the 54th minute. Michael Dobson was working over time and perhaps trying a bit to hard a times. Nothing seemed to be coming off as knock ons early in the tackle count continued to scupper Salford's night.
The first points of the second half came in the 74th minute when the excellent josh Drinkwater dropped a goal 19-0. In the final minute McNally scooped up a loose ball to chip over the stranded Ryan Lannon to race 50 yards under the posts for the try of the night. Drinkwater rounded off the points by tagging the conversation on 25-0.
A really disappointing night for Salford who now have over a week to prepare for a huge cup semi final against Wigan. Ian Watson was concerned with the form speaking after the match and could make changes next Sunday.
Tyrone McCarthy and Manu Vatuvei will both train this week and be in contention. There could also be returns from other injuries so hopefully good news later in the week. All is not lost yet with next week and 7 super eight games to look forward to. The prospect of third place is now gone and only a big St. Helens win against Wakefield on Sunday would see a fourth place finish.
Final score Leigh 25 Salford 0.
Paul whiteside
Pictures by Steve McCormick
Check out our latest podcast below Gareth Walker from the Daily Mirror talking about Salfords season so far.
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