Salford Red Devils did not let Marwan Koukash's latest attempt to hijack the headlines (see here) derail them from another victory in what is rapidly turning out to be the best season since the last Championship win in 1976 when the Reds cemented a top four play-off spot.
Run all the way by a spirited Leigh team, the Red Devils eased in the end to a 36-22 victory, which had some excellent attacking plays but with defensive play that coach Ian Watson will find worrying with tougher tests ahead.
Going into the game on the back of the first league win at Wigan in twenty years and victories over league leaders Castleford, as well as St Helens, Warrington and Hull FC, confidence was high. Ian Watson was able to name a strong starting line up, which included both Gareth O'Brien and Niall Evalds against a Leigh side that they had defeated in nine out of the last ten encounters, including a recent 12-6 home victory on Good Friday in front of a crowd a little under six thousand.
Salford were the form team in the competition with five wins in the last six, whereas Leigh had lost their last six games and desperately needed a win.
Played at Newcastle United's fantastic St James Park stadium as part of the Magic Weekend, the game was the second of three played on the day, after Huddersfield had defeated Catalan in what was one of the worst Super League games ever.
Thankfully the Salford fans woke everyone up. Tucked in the gods of the famous Gallowgate End, they raised the atmosphere beforehand with chants of 'I see the Salford Reds arising...'
Come kick off, with the stadium filling up, the Red Devils were left in the starting blocks as, after five minutes, a break up field left Salford defenders trailing, with a desperate tackle by Robert Lui bringing the attack to a stop. And the Salford defensive line was left in tatters on the next play as an overlap was created and Matty Flemming went in off a 'borderline' pass to score. Drinkwater kicked the conversion...0-6.
The Reds soon pegged Leigh back when, in the next set after kick off, Lachlan Burr lost position and Man of the Match Ben Murdoch-Masila went in to score his first try of the game, holding off a number of Leigh players. Dobson missed the conversion...4-6.
On fifteen minutes, the Salford Red Devils were level, when Leigh's Harrison Hansen was penalised. Rather surprising, as Salford were in a good attacking position, rather than taking the tap, the penalty kick was taken to level the scores...6-6.
Unlike Salford, a few minutes later when Leigh were awarded a penalty in a kickable position, they decided to take the tap – and their positive decision was rewarded, as full back Mitch Brown walked through some ordinary defence by Kris Welham. The conversion was kicked and Leigh led by 12 points to 6.
Worrying for Salford supporters and coach Ian Watson, Leigh had scored off their only two forays near Salford's line and the Red Devils miserly defence seemed in a generous mood.
However Leigh's lead was short lived when another mistake on their next set of six, gifted Salford possession. In the ensuing play, Ben Murdoch-Masila scored a controversial try, which appeared to be a double movement, but was given as 'fair' by the video ref. Leigh players were clearly unhappy, as were their supporters, especially as a few minutes later Salford again received the benefit of the doubt by the video ref, something which was pointed out by Leigh coach Neil Jukes in his post match press conference.
Back on the field, the Reds started to play their best rugby of the game in both defence and attack. After forcing another Leigh mistake in their own 20 metre area, a flowing move from right to left saw Michael Dobson throw a pass to Kris Welham; Welham threw a dummy and ghosted past the static defenders to score. If Salford defence had at times in the game been poor, Leigh's was terrible. Dobson kicked the conversion and for the first time in the match the Red Devils were in the lead which they never lost...18-12.
On the half hour, Salford scored again, Dobson, Lui and Welham combining to send in Greg Johnson. Johnson received the ball on the touch line and, cutting inside, he beat three defenders to score a classic wingers try. Dobson converted and Salford led 24-12, all the more startling as Junior Sa'u and Niall Evalds had hardly touched the ball, with all Salford's tries coming down their left hand side.
With the Red Devils finally getting some defensive cohesion, they managed to repel a number of Leigh attacks and at half time led 24-12.
The second half began with a period of Salford pressure on the Leigh line, attacking towards the Salford fans, and it was only a matter of time, it seemed, before the Leigh line broke. Instead it was Salford who unexpectedly buckled. On Leigh's first venture deep into the Salford half, Ben Crooks beat Junior Sa'u and ghosted past Gareth O'Brien to score a try. With the conversion it cut Salford's lead to six points...24-18.
From people expecting Salford to extend their lead, the Leigh try suddenly reignited the game as a contest. Leigh, with their tales up, had a period of sustained pressure, but the Red Devils managed to hold them out, and when attacking deep in the Leigh half on 55 minutes the game changed, and Leigh's hopes were all but extinguished.
A flowing move saw Gareth O'Brien pass the ball to the wing; he was then taken late by Adam Higson, who, with an old fashioned stiff arm or coat hanger tackle, sent the Salford player spinning to deck. Play was stopped, a small melee ensued and Higson was sent from the field.
Thirty seconds later, after played had resumed, Niall Evalds danced past five defenders to score in what, up to that point, had been a quiet game for him. Dobson kicked the conversion and the Red Devils led 30-18.
To give Leigh credit they did not give up and were next to score, when on 65 minutes Junior Sa'u made a bad defensive error. Rushing out of the line, he enabled Leigh to create a two on one by isolating winger Niall Evalds. Fortunately the conversion was missed which meant that Salford's lead was eight points...30-22.
With Leigh once again believing an upset could be on the cards, Craig Kopczak brought them crashing down to earth when he smashed Lachlan Burr in a tackle in front of Leigh's posts in the next passage of play. The resultant scrum was won and Greg Johnson went in to score in the corner with a poacher's try to end the try scoring for the afternoon.
Dobson missed the conversion but with five minutes on the clock kicked a penalty after a Leigh indiscretion to extend the Reds' lead to 36-22, which it remained until full time.
After the match, coach Ian Watson told the media that he was happy with the win and two competition points. He said it was a "big one, every weekend is a big one to get the two points. To come to the Magic Weekend and get the two points is a big occasion. You have to do your job, as we have done and then you can enjoy the occasion afterwards."
Going onto the Reds' defence in the game he was asked if was an issue and replied "Yes, it is something we pride ourselves on. Our effort in certain areas fell off our usual standards. The boys are an honest group; they know that and they will fix it themselves...We need to make sure we are consistent every week."
Unfortunately on a more sour note, the second leg of the club's 'consultation' with supporters re the direction of the club was released on the club's website on the 19th May and subsequently buried to the second page of the site by other news.
If you want to be one of the fans selected for a face to face discussion then you need to fill in the form (https://www.salfordreddevils.net/research-project-update/ ) and be available on 24th May after 3:30pm. For such an important consultation with the potential ramifications for the club, the city and supporters, there seems to be an undue haste to get things completed. So don't dawdle and at least try and have your say, even if the rumour mill indicates decisions have already been made!
Match report and photos by Gareth Lyons
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