It’s been a very busy week of wheeling and dealing at Salford Red Devils. King Vuniyayawa has joined Hull on loan for the rest of the season with Adam Sidlow making a loan switch up to Oldham. Jayden Nikorima has joined Salford after his dismissal from Catalans and Joe Bullock has joined on a loan spell from Warrington. Bullock’s move has probably helped the early transfer of Luke Yates who has left Huddersfield early to join the Wolves with immediate effect.

The Giants were in last chance saloon as far as the playoffs were concerned and they simply couldn’t afford another defeat. Caretaker coach Luke Robinson who spent three good seasons as a player with Salford from 2005-2007 was forced to make changes to the side that lost narrowly at Leigh last Saturday. Andre Savelio and Sam Hewitt were both serving suspension and forward Joe Greenwood will be out injured for the rest of the season with a shoulder problem.

The Giants had Jake Connor at fullback with Tui Lolohea and Adam Clune the halfback pair. The evergreen Chris Hill started at prop and the popular Matty English returned to the club from his loan spell at Castleford and went straight into the starting thirteen at prop.

Nene McDonald was a very welcome returnee for Salford but Sam Stone missed out due to a slight back problem. Oliver Partington moved to prop with Joe Shorrocks slotting in at loose forward. Cade Cust returned at stand off after missing the last six matches.

After a roasting hot day the evening was still very warm, fine and dry making playing conditions perfect on a pitch that looked like a green carpet.

Salford were in their white shirt which is a favourite with many, the Giants were in their traditional claret and gold.

Lolohea’s half break woke the Giants up as they started brightly with plenty of enthusiasm. Despite the dry conditions the first fifteen minutes of the match was littered with handling errors as both teams struggled to build any sort of momentum.

Lolohea was the danger man again with a lovely kick into space but the kick was kind to Salford fullback Ryan Brierley.

Salford’s first really chance came on the back of a Joe Mellor break but from the following drop out kick McDonald knocked on. Both sides were lacking fluidity in what was becoming a very scrappy first half.

Six minutes from the break Connor nudged the Giants in front with a penalty goal. From the kick off though the ball was knocked on handing Salford an attacking opportunity. Mellor went over from dummy half for his one hundredth career try. Sneyd converted 2-6 three minutes from half time.

Sneyd kicked a 20-40 to get Salford on the front foot then a penalty followed. The Red Devils spurned the kick at goal and decided to run it. Sam Halsall intercepted and raced eighty meters to level the score at 6-6. Connor’s conversion hit the post.

Cust was replaced by Chris Atkin as the Red Devils tried to find something on attack. Two penalties on the bounce got Salford in range and this time Sneyd opted to take the two on offer, 6-8 with an hour on the clock.

The match was becoming a real hard slog for both sides. With twelve minutes left Connor levelled the match at 8-8 with a penalty goal and after a long delay taking the kick Brad Singleton was sin binned.

The video referee was called upon to check for a Giants try. Referee Jack Smith had given no try on the field and the video agreed, super defensive work from Chris Hankinson prevented the try.

Connor edged the Giants in front with a real 50-50 penalty which could of been awarded as an incorrect play the ball. Salford went short from the kick off and got the ball back but a loose offload was gobbled up by the home side. Huddersfield made the game safe when Adam Milner scooted over from dummy half in the final minute. The hooter sounded as Connor tagged the conversion on.

A very disappointing performance from Salford but credit must go to the home side who played with a real dogged determination and never gave in.

The Red Devils are back in action next Saturday when they host Castleford.

Huddersfield 16 Salford 8.

Paul Whiteside.

Big thanks to Steve McCormick for the photos.