Born Red, Live Red, Die Red: Salford 50 Swinton 12

An old rivalry was renewed as Salford took on the Swinton Lions at the AJ Bell stadium. Both sides had plenty of new signings on show on what was a bitterly cold but dry afternoon.

Jack Littlejohn started at scrum half and pulled the strings in the opening exchanges with his kicking game pegging the lions back on a number of occasions.

Greg Johnson grabbed the opening score after nice quick hands in the build up before Kris Welham sent the wing man over. Gareth O Briens glorious kick sailed over from the touch line 6-0.

Lama Tasi went on the burst before putting Tyrone McCarthy under the posts with a neat short pass. O Brien extended the lead to 12-0.

Just after the half way mark Kris Welham sliced through the lions defence as Salford clicked in to gear working the numbers superbly in a marauding attack. O Brien this time didn’t convert 16-0.

Young Josh Wood started the match at hooker and his pace set the next Salford try up with a thrilling break. Niall Evalds just had the legs on former Salford player George Tyson who’s gallant tackle was just not enough. O Brien added the goal 22-0.

Five minutes before the break Swinton’s new Australian signing Hayden Hansen pouched a try from close range. Centre Chris Hankinson added the goal. The Red Devil’s led 22-6 at the break.

Gareth O Brien cut through a gap in the early stages of the second half his lovely step and pace took him over for a nice try which he converted 28-6.

Derrell Olpherts then grabbed two try’s on his debut. Derrell was very impressive showing good pace and block busting power on a number of occasions finishing both his tries well.

On 72 minutes the hard working lions were rewarded with an excellent try themselves when Hankinson went over. The young centre added the goal to his try 38-12. Swinton coach Stuart Littler May have been a bit disappointed though with the final two minutes as Salford cut away with two tries as substitute Robert Lui and young forward Gavin Bennion went over.