St Helens 48 Salford 8 Match report

A trip to St Helens for the opening match of the season was without doubt the toughest card Ian Watson’s side could be dealt when the fixtures were released.

The Grand Final winners under new coach Kristian Woolfe had kept faith with last seasons squad with no new faces arriving for 2020.

Salford arrived in confident mood after an excellent pre season training camp and three warm up fixtures. With Watson signing a new contract earlier in the week the Salford supporters were in good voice ahead of the kick off and yet again travelled in big numbers to add to the impressive atmosphere.

The Red Devils made a very positive start, hooker Joey Lussick was held up over the line before a Saints mistake led to a penalty which Tui Lolohea kicked Salford in front from 0-2.

A Lee Mossop mistake handed Saints an attacking opportunity and they built pressure forcing a drop out. A penalty followed on the next set and the bold hosts forced the pass. Zeb Taia sliced through to score a very similar try to the one he got the last time the two sides met in the Grand Final. 

Arguably the biggest player on the pitch Alex Walmersley thundered on to the ball like a freight train for the next try. Scattering defenders to crash over. Lachlan Coote converted again, 12-2.

Rhys Williams came very close to scoring for Salford but agonisingly had a foot in touch to be denied.

Possession and territory being dominated by Saints gave Salford an awful lot of defending to do. Luke Yates put a terrific shift in and Niall Evalds answered every question asked of him. Salford’s star fullback came under increased pressure from plenty of attacking kicks but passed the test with an accomplished display.

Another Saints drop out just before half time led to a crucial third try. James Greenwood looked to have had the ball stolen but referee Liam Moore went the opposite way. From the next set Theo Fages threw a dummy before racing over to send the home side in 18-2 at the break. 

Salford chanced their arm at the start of the second half and were unlucky not to score when a clever Kris Welham kick caught Saints out. Ken Sio touched down with the video referee ruling the try out.

Some sloppy play allowed St. Helens another attacking set. The ball fizzed across the pitch before Regan Grace glided over.

A lovely Salford move was finally rewarded when Ken Sio finished off superbly to squeeze in at the corner. Lolohea booted off the touch line to bring the score back to 24-8.

That’s as good as it got for Salford though, another polished attack from Saints led to a kevin Naiqama try. 

Young star Jack Welsby scored two tries to take the hosts past the forty point mark. At just eighteen the youngster looked like a seasoned professional with some real quality play.

The final try of the night went to Walmersley as he charged at a tired Salford defence to seal an emphatic St Helens performance.

The Champions look like they will be the team to catch in 2020. With a team full of power and pace they play the game with a certain panache that is magnificent to watch a times.

For Salford it’s back to the drawing board with Toronto visiting the AJ Bell Stadium next Saturday. Coach Ian Watson will be expecting a reaction after a disappointing night. “They’ve taught us a lesson on how to play the game really simple, not over complicate it and turn the ball over in the right areas. Our last plays were terrible today so was our defence, we need to be better than that.”

St. Helens 48 Salford 8.

Paul Whiteside.

Pictures by Steve McCormick 

St Helens v Salford Red Devil’s preview

What a match to start the new season and new decade. The two Grand Finalists meeting in what should be a thrilling match. It’s a long time since Salford won this fixture, to be precise it’s 40 years and 14 days exactly. Or if you like numbers it’s 14,614 days ago. 

Saturday 12th January 1980 seems a life time ago. So much has changed in sport and society in general but that’s how far you have to go back since Salford won this fixture.

The Rubix cube had just made its debut at The International Toy Fair. New Romantics were taking over the pop charts, The Jam we’re enjoying number ones and The British Steel Corporation had started a nationwide strike. Times were changing and so was the sport of Rugby League.

It’s a record that needs breaking and Salford have certainly come close in recent seasons. 

The 2017 match was a real bitter pill to swallow after Salford had lead 8-24 going in to the closing stages. It’s hard for me to say it but it was a remarkable comeback from a club that never seem to give in. “Never write off The Saints” as people say!

A terrific match last May had everything. The swashbuckling Saints stormed in to a match winning lead before Ian Watson’s men stunned everyone by scoring thirty unanswered points . St. Helens then gave us another comeback and with a try in the dying moments of the match as they snatched the game in controversial circumstances. James Bentley’s try was reviewed by the video referee but didn’t look conclusive. That said it was a terrific encounter.

October’s Grand Final was another game the Salford players and supporters can be very proud of. A heroic display against the best side in the country by a significant distance saw the Red Devil’s scale new heights of publicity, gaining a fair few friends on the way.

With Justin Holbrook returning to Australia St. Helens have a new coach in Kristian Woolfe. With no players coming in to join the club in the close season Woolfe still has an excellent squad to pick from in 2020 and Saints are strong favourites for silverware again.

For the record the last time the two sides met on the opening day of the season was back in 1998 at the Willows. Salford were then coached by Andy Gregory. A big crowd of 7,337 saw Saints edge to a 14-18 victory.

Super league Away Record at St. Helens 

St. Helens 23

Draws 0

Salford 0

1997 St. Helens 19 Salford 12

1998 St. Helens 48 Salford 12

1999 St. Helens 48 Salford 0

2000 St. Helens 46 Salford 22

2000 St. Helens 50 Salford 28

2001 St. Helens 66 Salford 16

2002 St. Helens 34 Salford 2

2004 St. Helens 40 Salford 4

2005 St. Helens 46 Salford 12

2006 St. Helens 28 Salford 6

2007 St. Helens 48 Salford 4

2007 St. Helens 27 Salford 26

2009 St. Helens 38 Salford 12

2010 St. Helens 58 Salford 34

2011 St. Helens 31 Salford 6 (played at Widnes)

2012 St. Helens 38 Salford 10

2013 St. Helens 14 Salford 10

2014 St. Helens 32 Salford 12

2015 St. Helens 32 Salford 12

2016 St. Helens 34 Salford 20

2017 St. Helens 25 Salford 24

2018 St. Helens 32 Salford 2

2019 St. Helens 32 Salford 30

They played for both.

Over the years there has been so much player movement between the two clubs. The town of St Helens is a real hot bed of the game with some fantastic amateur set ups including Thatto Heath, Blackbrook and Clock Face. In the Super League era Matty Smith, Jordan Turner, Lama Tasi, Tommy Lee and Theo Fages have all moved to Saints from Salford. Willie Talu, Tony Puletua, Francis Meli, Mark Edmondson, Matty Ashurst, Andrew Dixon, Danny Arnold, Alan Hunte, Josh Jones, Bobbie Goulding, Lee Gaskell ,Paul Forber, Mark Lee, Jake Emmitt and Anthony Stewart to name a few in recent years to represent both sides.

Eric Prescott, Paul Groves, Paul Brownbill, John Mantle, Ken Gwilliam, George Nicholls and Darren Bloor played for both clubs in the pre super League era. The list could certainly go on as there are many more. Alex Murphy and Shaun McRae have coached both sides.

A match to remember, 12th January 1980.

St. Helens 17 Salford 18.

After a successful period for Salford in the 1970s as the decade ended cracks were starting to appear. Players were moving on and some getting older but their was still some stalwarts at the club with Mike Coulman, Colin Dixon, Keith Fielding, Kenny Gill, Alan Grice, Steve Nash, Eric Prescott and Maurice Richards all on the playing roster. Between them they had tons of big game experience and hundreds of matches under their belts.

The 1979/80 season would go on to be modestly successful for Salford with a final league position of fourth. Top of the table at Christmas time and unbeaten in the league for the first few months of the season the supporters were dreaming of good times again.

December 79 was a tough month and three defeats against three of the top sides of that period Bradford, Widnes and Hull Kr were a slight set back.

With young star hooker Paul O’Neil on international duty playing for Great Britain under 24s changes were made. Kevin Ashcroft came in at hooker for for O’Neil and Sammy Turnbull played right centre.

Scrum halves Dave Harris and Steve Nash were both injured so new signing John McAtee made his debut.

Eric Prescott tackled everything putting in an all action display in the pack.

Mike Coulman ran the ball hard all afternoon against a very tough St. Helens pack that included terrific ball playing forward George Nicholls and big Powerful Eric Chisnall.

The game was nip and tuck all the way. Salford’s three tries came from Coulman, Prescott and Colin Whitfield. Goal kicking full back Steve Rule booted four conversions but the unlikely match winner was veteran hooker Kevin Ashcroft. His drop goal snatched it for Salford in what was a thrilling afternoon at Knowsley Road.

The teams that day;

St. Helens, Brian Parkes, Les Jones, Clive Griffiths, Derek Noonan, Roy Mathias,

Steve Peters, Johnny Smith, Mel James, Graham Liptrot, Eric Chisnall, Chris Seldon, Peter Gorley, George Nicholls.

Subs, Denis Litherland and Roy Haggerty.

Salford, Steve Rule, Keith Fielding, Sam Turnbull, Colin Whitfield, Maurice Richards, Frank Wilson, John McAtee, Mike Coulman, Kevin Ashcroft, Tony Gourley, Chris Mcgreal, Stuart Williams, Eric Prescott.

Attendance, 4,111

Referee, Mr J.E. Smith. (Halifax) .

 Friday’s match.

St. Helens and Salford have produced some pulsating matches in this fixture. It’s fair to say the Red Devils have been on the end of a fair few hidings as well.

Intensity levels are set to go through the roof especially the way Saints play. You can’t afford to clock off and concentration for the full eighty minutes will be vital. Salford’s goal line defence must be water tight.

Kristian Woolfe has got big shoes to fill having taken over from departing coach Justin Holbrook. The St. Helens crowd will have high expectations but from a Salford point of view this could be the right time to catch them cold.

It promises to be an electric atmosphere with the Red Devils faithful travelling in big numbers. As we saw last season sport is all about belief, confidence and momentum. If Salford could pull off a victory in this match it would give the club a huge boost with home games coming up in the next month or so.

As we wait with eager anticipation for the 19 man squad later this week everyone has an opinion on what their starting 13 would be. Ian Watson has some tough decisions to make after last Thursdays match at Warrington. 

Safe travels and enjoy the match everyone. 

Paul Whiteside

Pictures by Steve McCormick 

Warrington 26 Salford 10 Match report

Salford rounded off their pre season with a trip to the Halliwell Jones Stadium to face Warrington in Mike Cooper’s Testimonial match.

Both teams had strong sides on show as the count down to the new Super League season edged ever closer. In many ways this match felt like a dress rehearsal. 

The Red Devils struck first, Kevin Brown fired out a super pass to centre Dan Sarginson who powered over to score. 

The Wolves hit back when Toby King picked Ken Sio’s pocket, Warrington’s star centre pinched the ball after a tricky high kick. Stefan Ratchford’s conversion edged the home side in front 6-4.

Some strong running from Joe Philbin and Mike Cooper began to cause Salford problems and classy hooker Daryl Clark was his usually nippy self around the ruck.

The stand out performer was Warrington fullback Matty Ashton. After a fantastic season in 2019 with Swinton Lions the youngster was doing everything right. He looked very dangerous with ball in hand, his pace was frightening and defensively he looked very accomplished.

A lovely Salford move brought the game to life when Connor Jones put Niall Evalds through a gap. On the next play clinical handling and a real strong finish saw Sarginson score his second try to restore Salford’s lead. 6-10.

The Wolves seemed to be losing their way and became frustrated. The Red Devils pack we’re really muscling up in what was an impressive first half.

Stefan Ratchford surprisingly kicked a penalty goal two minutes before the break to reduce the deficit to 8-10.

After the entertaining arm wrestle of the first half the game seemed to open up in the second. Salford coach Ian Watson made plenty of substitutions in order to look at certain scenarios and combinations. This probably unsettled the rhythm of his side slightly. 

The first action of the second half saw Blake Austin kick a neat Forty Twenty. The Wolves built pressure with back to back sets before a Ben Murdoch Masila error let Salford off the hook temporarily.

Ashton glided through showing his lighting pace only to be brought down via a last ditch ankle tap. This only delayed the inevitable though with Anthony Gelling scoring on the next play as Ratchford kicked for him in space wide out.

Ken Sio spilled the ball under pressure which allowed Warrington to camp on Salford’s line with repeat sets. Brilliant scrambling defence helped the Red Devils repel this onslaught as the Wolves slightly over played their attack.

Former Rugby Union star Luther Burrell raced in to score a try before Tom Lineham sliced through a jaded Salford defence to round off the scoring.

Speaking after the match Salford coach Ian Watson was pleased with his sides progress in the pre season “ we wanted to really focus on how we started the game and the first forty to fifty minutes were the key to that. I thought we dominated for certain periods.” Speaking about Kevin Brown, Watson knows he has a player of real quality in the ranks “ people have wrote him off saying his old or he’s not good enough, he would of definitely partnered Blake Austin at Warrington last year if it wasn’t for the injury and to be fair would their season have been completely different with them two in the halves? Probably!”

Looking ahead to next weeks match at champions St. Helens “ we’ve ticked all the boxes in pre season, it’s the big one for us going there and testing ourselves.

Warrington 26 Salford 10.

Paul Whiteside.

Pictures by Steve McCormick 

Salford 40 Leigh 14 Match report

Salford Red Devils welcomed local neighbours Leigh to the AJ Bell Stadium for their second pre season match of 2020.

Dry and quite mild at kick off the conditions were quite blustery and both sides came up with early errors. 

The opening quarter became a fairly stop start affair in a match that was lacking any kind of rhythm. Centurions hooker Liam Hood looked bright with his speed around the ruck and at dummy half. This was just edged by Salford’s number nine Joey Lussick. The ever impressive Australian was held up over the line by some desperate Leigh defence. Not to be denied, on the very next set his dogged persistence paid off to open the scoring with a trademark try. Tui Lolohea added the extras 6-0.

A rare Kris Welham error from the kick off handed Leigh an attacking opportunity. Two penalties followed before Hood crashed over from close range. Ben Reynolds tied the scores at 6-6.

Rhys Williams and Elliot Kear partnered up on the edge for Salford. The two Welsh internationals seemed to have a great understanding of each other having played together at London last season. Williams came up with a try saving tackle to deny Leigh winger Adam Higson a try. Then moments later a delightful Kevin Brown pass put Williams in for a nice try.

The Red Devils began to up the pace against the hard working Centurions. A big tackle on Higson forced the mistake and Salford took full advantage. Brown this time created a try for Ken Sio with a classy offload.

The highlight of the half came on the stroke of half time. Niall Evalds broke clear to send Luke Yates rampaging to the line, the defence caught Yates but his brilliant pass gave James Greenwood an easy touchdown. 

Leading 22-6 Salford were quite comfortable now at the start of the second half. Evalds almost put Williams over but the pass just evaded him.

The introduction of Martin Ridyard and Josh Woods in the Leigh halves seemed to spur the visitors on and they enjoyed a purple patch scoring two well worked tries. Young Brad Holroyd finished superbly before former Salford favourite Junior Sau went over. 

At 22-14 Leigh’s endeavour had been rewarded.

Williams grabbed his second try with some tremendous footwork to dance round Sau. Both Williams and a Kear played the full eighty minutes sending coach Ian Watson a clear message that they want to feature heavily this season. The Welsh duo were very impressive with a really good work rate.

Josh Johnson’s all action display was rewarded with a try from close range as Salford clicked into gear late on.

As the hooter sounded Leigh forced a pass out wide, unfortunately for the visiting supporters Ed Chamberlain intercepted to dash in for the final try. Krisnan Inu converted to wrap the game up 40-14.

Salford coach Ian Watson was pleased with the overall progress and takes his squad to Spain for a short training camp next week. Speaking after the match Watson said “We made to many errors in the second half and were poor but again we made a lot of changes. Individuals have got to be responsible for their own performances”.

Speaking about Salford’s next assignment at Warrington “were looking at little combinations and trying a few things on how individuals perform as well as the team. Their is always people who push forward and say I am the starter and want to start the season and that’s generally done by performances and will become clearer when we play Warrington”. 

Salford travel to the Halliwell Jones Stadium on Thursday 23rd January with a 7:45pm kick off.

Paul Whiteside.

Pictures by Steve McCormick 

Salford 52 Swinton 4 Match Report

Old rivalry and friendships were reunited at The AJ Bell Stadium as Salford Red Devils began the new decade against Swinton Lions. Both sides were playing their first game of the pre season and looking to shake off the ring rust ahead of the long campaign ahead. 

Salford handed debuts to Dan Sarginson, Chris Atkin, James Greenwood and Luke Yates in the starting thirteen. With quite a few new faces on a long substitute bench. Ed Chamberlain returned after a long injury lay off and young local lad Luis Roberts was also included.

The first chance of the match came to the lively Lions. Rob Fairclough doing the damage but Mitch Cox couldn’t hold the pass.

Kris Welham continued last seasons tremendous form with another action packed performance. His super off load to Ken Sio provided the winger a great chance before the ball was spilled over the line. Welham grabbed the games first try off Tui Lolohea’s neat pass.

Salford soon doubled their lead when Gil Dudson showed great footwork to power over. The Welshman looked unstoppable at times and was in prime physical condition.

Krisnan Inu converted the two tries to give the Red Devils a 12-0 lead.

Swinton were still fighting hard and in determined mood. Jose Kenga burst through with stand off Jack Hansen in support the try looked certain. Lolohea had other ideas and his last gasp ankle tap saved Salford. 

Welham then sprung into life anticipating an interception perfectly to race away. His offload put Sio in for a try.

Salford’s star centre then bagged his second try on the stroke of half time pouncing on a mistake to score.

Red Devils boss Ian Watson made changes at the break. Kevin Brown replaced Lolohea to partner Atkin in the halves. Elliot Kear and Rhys Williams also made their debuts and both showed nice touches. 

Brown became the general and started to dictate the play linking up well with fullback Niall Evalds who looked dangerous every time he had the ball. 

Browns first involvement set up Evalds with a fantastic pass to score and it wasn’t long before he grabbed his second try after gliding through the Lions defence like a knife through hot butter. Evalds then turned provider laying on a try for Atkin. Former Swinton star Atkin was heavily involved all afternoon and looks a very clever player.

Former London winger Rhys Williams powered over from close range to bring up the forty point mark. All Salford’s substitutes were used with some impressive displays from forwards Sebastine Ikahihifo and Jack Ormondroyd. Connor Jones was busy at hooker after replacing Joey Lussick. Lussick continued his consistent standards with a very accomplished first half.

Ryan Lannon sprung into life scoring a try out of nothing to put Salford 46-0 up.

Credit to Swinton Lions who kept trying to test the Salford defence and they were rewarded late on when Ryan Cray squeezed in at the corner.

Josh Johnson made it a perfect ten tries for Salford with a close range touchdown on the last play of the game.

It was nice to see the Peter Smethurst memorial Trophy on display again after a number of years and this went to Salford’s Dan Sarginson.

Both Watson and Lions boss Stuart Littler have plenty of positives to take out of the match. Speaking after the match Watson said “all these early games are for players to put their hand up and say you can’t leave me out of the team. This game was about getting through the processes and doing them well. If we’re pushing players out of the team who started last year that means we’ve got a better level of player.”

Salford are back in action on Saturday at the AJ Bell Stadium when they face Leigh Centurions with a 12pm kick off.

Salford 52  Swinton 4.

Paul Whiteside.

Pictures by Steve McCormick