SALFORD RED DEVILS 26 CASTLEFORD TIGERS 22
TOM ALDERSON, Salford Community Stadium, Sunday
SALFORD have made strides in their performances in recent weeks and finally they got some fruits for their labour with a hard-fought win over Castleford.
It’s been a tumultuous season for the Red Devils, with uncertainty off the field crippling the playing squad on it. However, Paul Rowley’s side have been more competitive in their last couple of outings and this time they had enough to get over the line to claim just their second win of the season.
Led around by loanee Oliver Russell, the Red Devils scored five well worked tries and challenged the Tigers defence throughout the game, overcoming three injuries in the game to hold on for just their second win of the season.
For Castleford, it was a frustrating conclusion to a difficult week for the club.
After sacking head coach Danny McGuire after the defeat to Huddersfield, interim coach Chris Chester was looking for a response, but their display, although full of effort and physicality, lacked composure and execution at crucial moments, and ultimately they fell to their fourth straight defeat.
Salford opened the scoring inside ten minutes through a try to Ethan Ryan after a slick left to right shift in a promising start for the hosts.
The Tigers grew into the game, however, building momentum to level up matters ten minutes later through Josh Simm, who finished calmly on the right edge after enterprising play from Tom Amone and former Salford star Chris Atkin.
The Tigers then took the lead five minutes later, with Daejarn Asi catching the Salford defence napping off the scrum from close range for a converted try.
Salford needed to respond quickly and they did so in emphatic fashion, notching up two tries before half-time to take the lead.
Harvey Wilson crashed over from close range before Joe Mellor raced in on the right following a break from Esan Marsters to give the hosts the half-time advantage.
The Tigers struck first just after half time through Asi to level up the scores, but Salford kicked on again with two more tries to go ten clear.
Marsters barged over off the back of a break before Hankinson dotted down from a lovely Russell kick to put Salford in control.
Castleford set up a nervy final few minutes with a try from George Lawler from a kick, but it was too little, too late as the Red Devil held on for the win.
GAMESTAR: Oliver Russell came into the Salford side and was brilliant throughout, with an effective kicking game and strong game management leading them to a deserved victory.
GAMEBREAKER: Two tries in six minutes in the second half put Salford into an insurmountable lead.
HIGHLIGHT REEL: Salford’s try on the stroke of half-time from Joe Mellor was a great team effort from halfway.
ALBERT GOLDTHORPE POINTS
3 pts: Oliver Russell (Salford)
2 pts: Chris Hill (Salford)
1 pt: Daejarn Asi (Castleford)
MATCHFACTS
RED
DEVILS
1 Ryan Brierley
2 Ethan Ryan
23 Chris Hankinson
17 Esan Marsters
28 Nathan O’Connell
6 Jayden Nikorima
44 Oliver Russell (D)
18 Jack Ormondroyd
9 Joe Mellor
10 Chris Hill
52 Dan Russell
53 Tom Whitehead
13 Joe Shorrocks
Subs (all used)
16 Loghan Lewis
24 Harvey Wilson
50 Toby Warren
57 Declan Murphy (D)
18th Man (not used)
27 Kai Morgan
Also in 21-man squad
22 Matty Foster
19 Justin Sangare
30 Tiaki Chan
Tries: Ryan (9), Wilson (38), Mellor (40), Marsters (52), Hankinson (58)
Goals: Hankinson 3/5
TIGERS
23 Fletcher Rooney
24 Josh Simm
22 Louis Senior
3 Zac Cini
4 Sam Wood
6 Daejarn Asi
42 Chris Atkin
43 Joe Stimson
16 Cain Robb
41 Tom Amone
11 Jeremiah Simbiken
12 Alex Mellor
13 Joe Westerman
Subs (all used)
10 George Lawler
15 George Griffin
19 Sam Hall
38 Brad Singleton
18th man (not used)
26 George Hill
Also in 21-man squad
5 Innes Senior
7 Rowan Milnes
35 Daniel Okoro
Tries: Simm (19), Asi (25, 44), Lawler (78)
Goals: Atkin 3/4
SCORING SEQUENCE: 4-0, 4-4, 4-10, 10-10, 16-10; 16-16, 22-16, 26-16, 26-22
Rugby Leaguer & League Express Men of the Match
Salford: Oliver Russell; Castleford: Daejarn Asi
Penalty count: 3-5
Half-time: 16-10
Referee: Aaron Moore
Attendance: 2,051