DEVILS’ FRONT FOOT FINISH
Salford 36 Widnes 6 Match Report – David Clegg
After a somewhat up and down season, the Salford Red Devils gave their faithful fans something to feel positive about with one of their best performances of the season, matched on the scoreboard by one of their most comprehensive wins. Not only that, following the defeats of Les Catalans Dragons and London Broncos, they completed their first hat trick of consecutive home victories since 2006.
Widnes will point to the fact that they had a number of first choice players missing, but that is an issue and decision from within their camp, and the Salford players could do no more than deal with the team which turned out on the day. Certainly there was no gainsaying the Devils commitment, as they tore into their opponents, from the off, with a determination which made the statement that, after three earlier defeats at the hands of the Vikings, this was one they were owed.
Not that the Widnes squad showed any lack of desire themselves as they endeavoured to match their hosts determination, enthusiasm, and energy. What they could not compete with, however, was the Red Devils’ physicality and fluent attacking rugby, which brought a deserved thirty point winning margin.
As is invariably the case, the victory was based upon a totally dominant performance by the pack in which Adrian Morley (left), in his last match as captain, led from the front, with the fitness and energy of a man ten years younger, and to which every one of the remaining forwards responded in like manner.
The defence structure throughout the game was rock solid with even the goal line defence able to contain the Widnes attack with seeming ease, despite their enjoying a fifteen minute spell of ascendency midway through the first half. Indeed it was not until nine minutes from the end that Salford’s defence was eventually breached by Ah Van’s score, as a result of his latching onto a high kick, by dint of his size, to which Owens added the conversion.
Up until that point it had been one-way traffic with the rampant Reds running amok with ball in hand, crossing for six well taken tries which kept the crowd entertained throughout. Man of the match, Junior Sa’u (top of page), put a period of recent, rather flat, performances behind him to cross for two tries, but it was his tremendous 20 min try saving tackle in the corner, on Phelps, which simultaneously skittled over Ah Van, that stood out in the memory.
Josh Griffin (right) had another commendable game with the boot, landing all six conversions to advance each score in multiples of six, whilst putting in some sterling work throughout the match and scoring a second half try. On the night, however, there was not a single player who failed to rise to the occasion, and make full contribution to the defeat of the team which seems to have had the ‘evil eye’ on the Devils throughout most of the season.
The game was barely three minutes old when a Salford attack saw Rangi Chase reverse the direction of attack, with his pass putting Harrison Hansen (left) through for the first try.
Six minutes later, Chase’s high bomb was misfielded by Ah Van, after he had taken responsibility for taking it, and Junior Sa’u took advantage by kicking and then regathering the ball to score under the posts.
Signs of an end to a protracted period of Widnes pressure came, on 28 mins, when yet another clever kick by Chase took just too long to arrive to the waiting Kevin Locke, and by the time he did receive it the defence had got back to snuff out the danger.
There was to be no such problem on 35 mins, however, when following a Salford penalty, Fages put Walton in the clear and he in turn fed the supporting Tony Puletua (right), who strolled nonchalantly between the posts.
Two fine breaks, first by Walton, and then Locke, both followed by quick play-the-balls put Widnes completely on the back foot, with Rangi Chase crossing between the posts to put Salford twenty-four points ahead at half time.
The ten minutes stalemate which followed the resumption was broken on 51 mins when Josh Griffin completely out-jumped his opposite winger, Flynn, to secure Chase’s kick and ground in the corner before landing the goal from close to the touchline.
Four minutes later, a typical bone-jarring tackle by skipper elect, Hansen, jerked the ball loose, for the Devils to take possession. The subsequent attack saw the ball moved from left to right until it came to Junior Sa’u who cut through to complete his brace of tries, and put his side firmly in control for the remainder of the match.
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