Leigh v Salford.

Although the score line suggests a close game Friday’s victory away to Huddersfield was a pretty comprehensive one. Salford were head and shoulders above the Giants in every department for seventy minutes. Losing Joe Shorrocks to injury and Joe Mellor to a broken hand was a real blow to the Red Devils who were out on their feet in the final minutes. Huddersfield sensed this and rolled the dice but in my opinion only one team deserved the victory.

Ethan Ryan and Nene McDonald came up with wonderful tries that thrilled the away supporters but the thing that impressed me the most was the commitment and desire in defence.

Salford were so well organised in the first half and this frustrated the Giants, on attack they looked dangerous every time they has possession with Marc Sneyd and Chris Atkin pulling the strings at halfback. Cade Cust looked very dangerous playing at hooker and perhaps that could be his preferred position for us.

This Friday’s opponents Leigh played out a thrilling draw with Castleford last weekend and it’s been a little up and down so far in 2024 for the Leopards who’ve struggled with injuries. Adrian Lam’s side have two wins and a draw so far but showed their potential with a convincing 30-2 win against Catalans just a few weeks ago.

2023 was a season that will never be forgotten in Leigh. The club returned to the top flight and took the league by storm. The club rebranded as they Leopards finishing 5th in the League and lifted the Challenge Cup at Wembley after a breathtaking final victory over Hull Kingston Rovers. The club has seen an amazing transformation over the last few years which has really put the town back on the Rugby League map after many years in the shadows of the teams around them.

There was some very sad news this week for Salford, Peter Walker who played hooker back in the 1970s passed away on Tuesday morning. Peter was a Championship winner in the 1973/74 season and won the Lancashire Cup with Salford in the side that beat Swinton at Wilderspool on the 21st October 1972 by 25 points to eleven. Peter made 72 appearances for Salford over four seasons.

Summer era, league away record. 1996 onwards.

Leigh 2

Draws 0

Salford 6

2003 Leigh 12 Salford 32 Hilton Park

2005 Leigh 6 Salford 32 Hilton Park.

2005 Leigh 14 Salford 20 Hilton Park.

2008 Leigh 8 Salford 24 Hilton Park.

2017 Leigh 25 Salford 0 Leigh Sports Village.

2021 Leigh 32 Salford 22 Leigh Sports Village.

2023 Leigh 10 Salford 20 Leigh Sports Village.

2023 Leigh 20 Salford 22 Leigh Sports Village.

They played for both.

Luke Adamson, Kevin Ashcroft, Simon Baldwin, Radney Bowker, David Bradbury, John Duffy, Jacob Emmitt, Matt Gardner, Matty Gee, Bobbie Goulding, Danny Halliwell, Harrison Hansen, Gareth Hock, Liam Hood, Peter Smethurst, Stuart Littler, Peter Alstead, Andrew Dixon, Nathan McAvoy, Dean McGilvary, Reni Maitua, Chris Morley, Stephen Nash, Rob Parker, Corey Paterson, John Pendlebury, Michael Platt, Gareth Price, Adam Sidlow, Craig Stapleton, Simon Svabic, John Taylor, Iain Thornley, Mike Wainwright, Krisnan Inu, Junior Sau, Ed Chamberlain, Ben Nakubuwai, Gareth O’Brien, Mark Moran, Ian Watson, Ryan Brierley and Mal Yates.

A match to remember sunday 16th February 2003.

Leigh 20 Salford 20.

After the disappointment and relegation of the 2002 season Salford started the following year playing in the Arriva Trains Cup Competition. This was to be played prior to the National League one season which would kick off on Good Friday. Salford were drawn in a group with Swinton, Gateshead, Leigh, Rochdale Hornets and Oldham.

Karl Harrison’s Salford side had made a positive start beating Swinton at The Willows 58-6. Many supporters felt that Leigh would be a tough test throughout the season. The Centurions were desperately trying to gain promotion to Super League and had come very close the previous two seasons.

Like Salford they had a decent looking squad and had strengthened in the close season. At hooker Paul Rowley had lots of experience at the top level, Adam Bristow was a clever forward and in the back line Neil Turley scored plenty of tries as well as being a top goal kicker.

It was a bitterly cold Sunday afternoon in February 2003. Salford entered the pitch in their white away strip, this went on to be a favourite with supporters. Leigh were in their traditional red and white hoops.

Salford drew first blood when prop Neil Baynes charged his way through the Leigh defence for the opening try. But Leigh went on to dominate the rest of the half. They levelled when Sean Richardson smashed his way over and should have taken the lead soon afterwards only for centre Damian Munro to spill the ball.

Leigh skipper Adam Bristow scored a try and John Duffy added the conversion and a penalty to give the hosts a 12-4 interval lead.

Salford were certainly in a contest and when John Duffy scored ten minutes in to the second half the Centurions opened up an 18-4 lead.

This seemed to spring Salford into action and they scored two tries in as many minutes. Stuart Littler swooped for the first and then sent Alan Hunte in at the corner.

A Duffy penalty gave Leigh an eight point cushion but six minutes from time Littler scrambled over at the corner and Lee Marsh added the touchline conversion. Two minutes from time Phil Kendrick cost Leigh victory when he was penalised for holding down and Marsh struck the equalising penalty.

It was a frantic finish but in the end a draw was probably a fair result.

The two sides went on to play each other six more times that season with Salford winning all of them including two finals.

Attendance, 4,445.

Friday’s match.

The two sides met just over a month ago at Easter and Salford won the game quite comfortably really 32-22. Hooker Edwin Ipape has returned since then from injury and he is a real key player. John Asiata was in the team that faced Catalans but missed last Saturday’s draw with Castleford.

With Shorrocks and Mellor picking up injuries Salford were boosted by Ben Hellewell returning to action with the reserves last week. David Nofoaluma also featured in that victory over Wakefield Trinity.

Paul Rowley’s starting thirteen has picked itself in recent weeks. The back line looks very settled and in the pack Jack Ormondroyd has really hit form. Oliver Partington was very impressive in the win at Huddersfield and it was great to see Brad Singleton back in the team after a significant knee injury.

Looking at the League table it’s pretty exciting at the moment with the top six all level on fourteen points with just points difference separating them.

Their has been a lot of talk in the media recently about the terrific home form of Hull Kingston Rovers and Warrington’s revival under Sam Burgess. Paul Rowley’s Salford side continue to fly under the radar and long may that continue.

It’s a very difficult job keeping a small squad healthy. Injuries are inevitable in sport but Salford continue to work hard both on and off the pitch to compete with the best.

Despite Salford being quite away in front of Leigh in the league table the bookmakers have the Leopards as slight favourites. Salford have a six point start on the coupon so another close game is expected.

The action gets under way at 8pm.

Safe travels and enjoy the match.

Paul Whiteside.

Big thanks to Steve McCormick for the photos and the Salford match day programme.