It had been a pretty grey day on Merseyside and as the two sides warmed up the drizzle continued. The pitch was in good condition but the greasy surface would add to the tactical kicking game of both sides for certain.

With Tim Lafai suspended Salford coach Paul Rowley shuffled things round. Chris Hankinson started at centre. Loghan Lewis moved to the bench with Joe Bullock starting at prop. Gil Dudson returned on the bench.

St.Helens had won away at Hull last weekend in comprehensive style to banish a spell of five successive defeats that’s put the club under pressure to make the top six playoffs. Saints coach Paul Wellens started Moses Mbye and Lewis Dodd in the halves. Youngster Harry Robertson was fullback. 

Alex Walmersley joined James Bell and Batchelor on a very capable looking bench. Mark Percival returned at centre.

John Denver played over the speakers just before kick-off and I am still not sure what his association with St.Helens is!

Saints were over in the corner early catching Salford cold. Mackinson finished well. The video referee checked it over but the try was given. Percival pulled the conversion wide. 

The Red Devils put themselves under pressure after turning over possession deep in their own half, very important tackles from Kallum Watkins and Ryan Brierley kept the line intact. Dodd continued to pepper Brierley with high kicks but the Salford fullback was steady away. 

Joe Shorrocks was sin binned for pulling a player back without the ball. It seemed a needless penalty to give away but probably prevented a try being scored. Another Dodd high kick catches Ethan Ryan out. Saints go over but the video referee is called upon with Chris Kendall giving no try on the field. No try is the decision and Salford were off the hook. 

Salford got points on the board after Marc Sneyd was taken off the ball from a kick. Sneyd sensibly took the two points on offer as his side were still a man down. 4-2.

The visitors had been under so much pressure but the goal line defence had been very well organised. Jayden Nikorima made a break and was held down. Sneyd levelled the score at 4-4. 

Despite the lack of possession and territory Salford got on top with their ferocious defence. They looked all on to take the lead but the drop goal never came. 4-4 at the break seemed a fair score line. 

Loghan Lewis took a really big hit from the kick off and he was helped off the field. 

A nice flat pass from Curtis Sironen put Waqa Blake over. Moments before Salford were pushed into touch when it looked like the momentum had stopped. Percival nailed the conversion off the touch line, 10-4.

A lovely Sneyd a kick provided a try for Chris Hankinson. Referee Kendall gave try on field and the video referee agreed. Sneyd levelled the score at 10-10.

Blake thought he was in for his second try but the video referee ruled it out for offside.

With the game entering the final quarter the game lay on a knife edge but Saints were turning the screw and eventually the pressure told when Batchelor powered over from close range. 

Salford kept working hard and continued to frustrate the hosts. Morgan Knowles caught Joe Mellor high and was lucky to be shown just a yellow card. On the next play Lewis was caught high. The match erupted. Batchelor and Oliver Partington were sin binned. Salford made the advantage count and Nene Macdonald scored a deserved try. Sneyd goal, 16-16 with eight minutes remaining.

Salford went left and Dean Cross looked all on to score but super cover defence kept him out. Saints went looking to win it. They couldn’t make the space to drop a goal but at Salford knock on gave them another chance but then they dropped it. 

The final hooter sounded and the match went to golden point extra time. 

 Both teams went forward and as the first half counted down Mbye dropped the goal to win the match to end an epic contest. 

St.Helens 17 Salford 16.

Paul Whiteside.

Big thanks to Steve McCormick for the photos.