St.Helens v Salford.

As a lad growing up the League fixtures coming out was always an exciting time. In the first few weeks of the new year they would arrive via the newspaper or Ceefax for those with fancy televisions. I can’t really remember using the internet. They had it at school in the big library but the mouse never seemed to work or the page you wanted was blocked. I’d cut my fixture list out of the evening news or the league express and blue tac it on my wall. I’d scan through at the matches and their was certain games you could only dream of winning. Trips to Headingley, Knowsley Road and Central Park were daunting prospects and to keep the score under thirty points was a morale victory. At times we seemed years behind Rugby League’s elite. Occasionally we’d get a surprise victory but on the whole it was a struggle. Over the last five or six years Salford RLFC have come a long way in such a short space of time. Not only are we competing but we are beating the teams that used to be light years in front of us on a regular basis.

Home form this season has been remarkable with just Wigan taking points from the Salford community stadium. Last Saturday’s match against Leeds felt like a playoff tie. Trailing by 6-16 the energy and composure the players showed to turn the match around was a delight to witness for the supporters. Their seems a real toughness about this group of players and with Marc Sneyd directing them around the pitch we look capable of beating anyone. Kallum Watkins showed his class against Leeds and he’s been a revelation since joining Salford. His maturity and vision on the pitch is absolutely priceless. I think Kallum has helped changed the culture at the club, particularly amongst the playing group. Their is some very talented players in Paul Rowley’squad but I think more importantly their are some very good people. 

I saw Nene Macdonald and Loghan Lewis celebrating with the supporters on Saturday. That bond the players have with the fans you don’t tend to see very often at sporting clubs. 

It’s been well documented that Salford waited 44 years to beat St.Helens home and away in a season. Could we possibly win twice there?? Saints looked very clinical away at Hull last weekend and looking at the League table they can’t afford many more defeats. I think you will see a very determined opposition on Thursday night with Saints coach Paul Wellens having his players fired up for this match. They can be a team that plays very close to the knuckle as Salford know only to well from recent matches between the two sides. Ive got a feeling that this match will be another brutal and bruising contest with a Saints side looking to win at all costs.

Super League away record.

St.Helens

Draws 0

Salford 1

1997 St. Helens 19 Salford 12

1998 St. Helens 48 Salford 12

1999 St. Helens 48 Salford 0

2000 St. Helens 46 Salford 22

2000 St. Helens 50 Salford 28

2001 St. Helens 66 Salford 16

2002 St. Helens 34 Salford 2

2004 St. Helens 40 Salford 4

2005 St. Helens 46 Salford 12

2006 St. Helens 28 Salford 6

2007 St. Helens 48 Salford 4

2007 St. Helens 27 Salford 26

2009 St. Helens 38 Salford 12

2010 St. Helens 58 Salford 34

2011 St. Helens 31 Salford 6 (played at Widnes)

2012 St. Helens 38 Salford 10

2013 St. Helens 14 Salford 10

2014 St. Helens 32 Salford 12

2015 St. Helens 32 Salford 12

2016 St. Helens 34 Salford 20

2017 St. Helens 25 Salford 24

2018 St. Helens 32 Salford 2

2019 St. Helens 32 Salford 30

2020 St.Helens 48 Salford 8

2021 St.Helens 29 Salford 6 (at Headingley, Leeds)

2021 St.Helens 28 Salford 0

2022 St.Helens 14 Salford 10

2022 St.Helens 19 Salford 12 (Play off semi final)

2023 St.Helens 26 Salford 12

They played for both.

Over the years there has been so much player movement between the two clubs. The town of St Helens is a real hot bed of the game with some fantastic amateur set ups including Thatto Heath, Blackbrook and Clock Face. In the Super League era Matty Smith, Joey Lussick, Jordan Turner, Lama Tasi, Tommy Lee and Theo Fages have all moved to Saints from Salford. Willie Talu, Tony Puletua, Francis Meli, Mark Edmondson, Matty Ashurst, Andrew Dixon, Danny Arnold, Mark Flanagan, Alan Hunte, Josh Jones, Bobbie Goulding, Lee Gaskell ,Paul Forber, Mark Lee, Jake Emmitt and Anthony Stewart to name a few in recent years to represent both sides.

Eric Prescott, Paul Groves, Paul Brownbill, John Mantle, Ken Gwilliam, George Nicholls and Darren Bloor played for both clubs in the pre super League era. The list could certainly go on as there are many more. Alex Murphy and Shaun McRae have coached both sides.

A match to Remember Friday 8th March 2024.

St.Helens 20 Salford 24

Never Stop Believing!

Just prior to kick off it was a very nippy evening in Merseyside with a biting breeze. The pitch looked good and it was perfect conditions for Rugby League, especially the way these two teams like to play. St.Helens have started the season like a well oiled machine. Three wins and just eight points conceded in the opening rounds of the season makes them one of the benchmarks of 2024.

Salford arrived in good spirits after three good performances with two home victories over Castleford and Hull Kingston Rovers.

St.Helens are a club that ooze professionalism and very rarely seem to have a week link in there side.

Ryan Brierley came back into the Salford side at fullback with Chris Atkin on the bench, the rest of the side was exactly the same as last Saturday’s match.

The Red Devils made a bright start but it didn’t take long for the hosts to take control. Saints were strong and powerful going forward and when a risky Cade Cust pass to Brierley went down they took advantage. The ball went wide in the blink of an eye and Jack Welsby scored.

Salford were struggling to contain Saints who were offloading at will and when Alex Walmersley broke half back Lewis Dodd backed up to score a fine try to double the lead. Mark Percival missed both conversions, 8-0.

The Red Devils carried on working hard and eventually enjoyed some possession. Walmersley left the field injured after an incident that Salford felt slightly aggrieved about and so did the travelling support. This set the game alight and the intensity went up a couple of notches. The visitors moved the ball left and Deon Cross finished well in the corner. Sneyd booted off the touch line, 8-6.

At times Saints were toying with Salford on attack. It was offloads galore and when Percival hit a perfect line he raced in to score under the posts, this time converting to give the home side a 14-6 cushion.

Dodd continued to pepper Salford fullback Brierley with huge high kicks but he was safe as houses on every occasion taking them with such calmness and confidence.

At the start of the second half Cross broke from a lovely Kallum Watkins pass, the ball came back into the middle before Jack Ormondroyd knocked on. As the Salford prop lost possession he was clattered by Percival. The referee Tom Grant adjudged it to be contact with the head and showed him the red card.

Another huge play followed went Salford looked to go wide early. The touch judge waved for obstruction and from the resulting penalty Dodd scored his second try which put Saints 20-6 up with time ticking away.

Nene McDonald forced the ball down for a try that was awarded by the video referee which reduced the gap to eight points with ten minutes remaining.

Salford had commitment and desire in sack loads. They were prepared to go toe to toe with there illustrious hosts right to the final bell and that had to be admired.

After forcing a repeat set Chris Atkin received the ball down a blind alley with nothing on. He beat three defenders and found a gap to dart over for a super try. Atkin had replaced the injured Cade Cust in the first half who never came back on. Sneyd converted to leave Salford trailing by two at 20-18.

The Red Devils had also lost Brad Singleton to injury and were playing without a recognised prop. Joe Shorrocks was everywhere in an all action display of heroics and Ben Hellewell gave his heart and soul as he always does.

With five minutes remaining Salford hit the lead when Cross scored his second try from a perfect pass by Tim Lafai. Once again the ice cool Sneyd booted off the touch line 20-24.

The home side now had to gamble and roared on by their supporters they went charging up the pitch to try and snatch a dramatic win like they’ve done so many times before. Big Alex Walmersley came back on for Saints and he went hurtling towards the posts but the Salford cover defence forced the knock on and the travelling fans were ecstatic. The clock counted down and as the hooter sounded forty four years of hurt and disappointing matches disappeared into the clear night sky. The supporters celebrated a famous win and a win that was very much deserved. A never say die attitude and a work ethic that is absolutely priceless. Salford coach Paul Rowley has built something very special and his players are willing to do whatever it takes for him and that could take Salford a long way this season. Rowley was as humble as ever after the match and payed his respect to the great club that St.Helens are.

You should never stop believing though because if you work hard in sport and keep going to the bitter end eventually you might get that reward and when you do it feels special.

The teams that night, 

Saints, Welsby, Mackinson, Blake, Percival, Bennison, Lomax, Dodd, Walmersley, Clark, Mata’utia, Whitley, Sironen, Knowles.

Subs, Mbye, Bell, Wingfield, Delaney. 

Salford, Brierley, Hankinson, Macdonald, Lafai, Cross, Cust, Sneyd, Ormondroyd, Bourouh, Singleton, Stone, Watkins, Shorrocks.

Subs, Vuniyayawa, Atkin, Wright, Hellewell.

Attendance, 11,548.

Referee, Tom Grant.

Thursday’s match.

Paul Rowley has been forced to make one change to his 21 man squad. The suspension to Tim Lafai sees Cade Cust come back into contention. I think Lafai is unlucky to be missing out. It’s almost like he’s been punished twice after his sin binning against Leeds. I don’t think the challenge was malicious and if he’d of been playing in an Ashes Test match or a State of Origin I am pretty sure it would of been play on. It seems a real grey area at the moment with certain tackles. Lachie Miller the Leeds fullback didn’t go off for a HIA after Lafai’s tackle. In the second half Joe Shorrocks and Loghan Lewis were both caught high by lazy attempts the caught them very high. The Shorrocks one James Bentley was sin binned for but no ban!! 

It will be interesting to see who moved to fill the centre position. Chris Hankinson can do a really accomplished job there as to can Sam Stone. 

Ethan Ryan is a player who is improving every week and makes tons of meters. I’ve been very impressed with him.

Chris Atkin has been unlucky to miss out in recent weeks and his next appearance will be his 100th for Salford.

Saints have Marc Percival back after his one match ban and Alex Walmsley also returns to the 21-man squad following a knee injury which required surgery.

A pack with Matty Lees, Curtis Sironen, Morgan Knowles and Joe Batchelor is one to be wary of. Add to that the very versatile James Bell who I think would walk into any Super League side. Jonny Lomax and Jack Welsby are  missing but Lewis Dodd will be available and could partner Moses Mbye in the halves.

I was surprised when I saw the bookmakers odds this week. Saints are strong favourites with Salford having a 12 point start on the betting coupon. 

It promises to be a thrilling match and I am sure the away end will be very noisy at kick off with the Red Devils fanatical travelling support. 

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.