Salford v Leigh.

After twenty seven rounds of League action these two sides can feel very satisfied with their accomplishments. Salford finished fourth and Leigh’s victory over St.Helens in a thrilling match on Friday night sealed fifth place. The last time Leigh finished above Saints was the 1981/82 season. That was the very season that Leigh last won the Championship. Forty two years ago star players like John Woods, Steve Dolan, Tommy Martyn, Mick McTigue and Mick Hogan led the team to glory. Salford were in the second division that season and missed out on promotion finishing in fifth place.

Both Salford and Leigh have lived in the shadows of Rugby League’s cartel for decades but of the last few seasons the big wheel of success has started to turn. Both sides have made progress on and off the field appearing in major finals and gaining the respect they deserve. The Leopards finally got their hands on the Challenge Cup trophy last season after over fifty years of waiting. Many people laughed when they came up with the Leopard idea but if you look at the progress Leigh have made on and off the pitch over the last decade they deserve plenty of credit. It’s a town that lives and breaths Rugby League. To quote the late great Colin Welland, “In south west Lancashire, babies don’t toddle, they side-step. Queuing women talk of ‘nipping round the blindside’. Rugby league provides our cultural adrenalin. It’s a physical manifestation of our rules of life, comradeship, honest endeavour, and a staunch, often ponderous allegiance to fair play.”

Just over twenty years ago both Salford and Leigh were chasing promotion to Super League as they battled it out in the National League one. A fierce rivalry developed but I think both sets of supporters respect each other. We’ve seen some fantastic matches between the two teams in recent years and it’s fair to say Leigh have had the edge on Salford in 2024 beating us comfortably at the LSV and Elland Road.

The Leopards were under pressure last Friday in what was playoff style Rugby when they met St.Helens in a match they simply had to win. I thought the score line flattered Saints. Leigh were the much better side. They were very tough and physically strong. I expect them to play a similar style this Friday. 

Salford’s fourth place finish in the regular season is a truly remarkable achievement and I’ll be honest with you, I didn’t think we’d finish this high. Losing key players in the off season gave many pundits the ammunition to doubt our chances of success. One thing that Paul Rowley did though was recruit players with fantastic work ethic and he certainly has got every ounce of value for money out of them. If your old enough think back over the last forty years. We could all dream of top half finishes and challenging for trophies. Hitting rock bottom conceding 96 points at Bradford. Supporters would scoff at Salford, we were the rubbing rags, the butt of jokes, but not anymore. The club is firmly on the Rugby League map now and the future is ours to write!

I think I’ve said it before but if you’re happy in the environment that you work in your employer will get so much more out of you. You can have all the talent in the world but if your head is elsewhere and your not happy then your playing catch up before a balls been kicked.

With Rowley and Kurt Haggerty we have two very knowledgeable tacticians who are also brilliant man managers. The bond between coaching staff, players and supporters at Salford is very very special.

Super League home record .

Salford 5

Draws 0

Leigh 1

2005 Salford 32 Leigh 6

2005 Salford 42 Leigh 6

2017 Salford 12 Leigh 6

2021 Salford 34 Leigh 8

2023 Salford 22 Leigh 24

2024 Salford 32 Leigh 22

They played for both.

Luke Adamson, Ed Chamberlain, 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, 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, Gareth O’Brien, Junior Sau, Ian Watson and Mal Yates.

A match to remember Sunday 6th July 2003.

Salford 36 Leigh 19.

With this weeks match being knockout Rugby League I thought I’d look back at a cup final between the two sides from twenty one years ago. The Arriva Trains Cup Final played at Spotland Stadium Rochdale.

The two sides had met twice in the group stages. A thrilling 20-20 draw at Hilton Park on a bitterly cold day in February and Salford won the other group game at the Willows 22-10 in March. 

A month previously in June Salford had won a very bad tempered League game at Hilton park and this cup final clash was expected to be another match full of blood and thunder.

The Centurion’s had targeted Salford scrum half Gavin Clinch in the previous meetings. The Australian had copped plenty of high tackles as Leigh desperately tried to knock Karl Harrison’s side off their game.

It was a terrific atmosphere as the two sides came out to a ticker tape welcome. Flags and scarves flew with an incredible noise generated.

In a nervous opening Leigh took an early lead with a try from Leroy Rivett and a drop goal from star fullback Neil Turley, 0-5.

Salford settled into the game with Clinch and halfback partner Cliff Beverley running the show. Andy Coley ran some great lines through the channels and his terrific pace made the big second rower a constant threat with his marauding runs. 

Stuart Littler was a constant thorn in the side of the Centurions. Littler seemed to love playing against his home town club. On the other edge veteran Alan Hunte had bags of big game experience and Salford powered into a 20-5 half time lead. 

Salford ran in tries through Gareth Haggerty, Andy Coley, Stuart Littler, Andy Kirk, Danny Arnold and Alan Hunte to seal victory a very comprehensive victory and a deserved one. Leigh’s discipline again let them down when two minutes from time centre Phil Kendrick was sent off for a tackle on Clinch.

Clinch picked up the man of the match award after another faultless performance. He was one tough player especially with all the punishment and cheap shots he took. He was smiling at full time when Salford lifted the trophy.

The teams that day,

Salford, Jason Flowers, Danny Arnold, Stuart Littler, Alan Hunte, Andy Kirk, Cliff Beverley, Gavin Clinch, Neil Baynes, Malcom Alker, Andy Coley, Simon Baldwin, Paul Highton, Chris Charles. Subs: Steve Blakeley, Mick Berne, David Highton, Gareth Haggerty. 

Leigh, Neil Turley, Damian Munro, Alan Hadcroft, Phil Kendrick, Leroy Rivett, Patrick Weisner, John Duffy, Sonny Nickle, Paul Rowley, Rob Ball, Sean Richardson, Bryan Henare, Adam Bristow (c). Subs: David Bradbury, Dale Cardoza, Willie Swann, Paul Norman.

Attendance, 6,486.

Referee, Peter Taberner.

Friday’s match.

Looking ahead to Friday night this match has all the ingredients to be an absolute belter. It’s been a real scramble this week for tickets and a very big crowd is expected and that’s what the playoffs are all about. It’s had a really special feel to it in the build up this week. The excitement is reaching fever pitch and despite Leigh beating Salford quite comprehensively in the last two meetings this season I’ve got a feeling that this game could go all the way to extra time. One piece of brilliance or a mistake could settle matters. 

When the season starts on a cold night in February the playoffs seem a million mile’s away. Now Salford are two games from the Grand Final and to crank the excitement up another notch just three games away from being Top Flight Champions for the first time in forty eight years. When you think of it like that it’s really quite scary. We can’t look past Friday though and it’s going to be a very tough match. As previously mentioned Leigh looked like a top side on Friday night last week when the beat St.Helens. That’s the first time Leigh have finished above Saints since the 1981/82 season when they last won the Championship. Salford’s fourth place finish also created a little bit of history on that front with it being the first time we’ve finished above Saints since the 1979/80 season. I am not saying the tide is turning just yet but it’s very refreshing to see teams that have been out of the limelight for so long doing well. Hull Kingston Rovers are another example. Their last major honour came in 1985 when they beat Castleford in the Yorkshire Cup Final. The Robins had also won the Championship the previous season. 

I’ve lost count this season of the amount of times I’ve mentioned how crucial Marc Sneyd’s performance will be but once again his role will be vital. His place kicking, goal kicking, assists and all round ability to control a game could be the key to victory. 

Leigh have their own danger men and Lachlan Lam Is one to watch. John Asiata is the man that seems to mastermind the way Leigh attack and Edwin Ipape is arguably the best hooker in the country. Josh Charnley is a lethal try scorer and he doesn’t need an invitation. If Charnley sees half a chance the outcome is usually inevitable.

Having rested more or less a full time last week the Red Devils should be fresh and at full strength. 

The bookmakers are expecting a very close match and can’t spilt these two on the handicap.

I must admit I am very nervous but can’t wait for the match now. Games like this don’t come around that often so it’s an absolute thrill to be involved in. I really hope this is not my last preview of 2024. Let’s hope we are all beaming with pride come 10:30pm on Friday night!

The action gets under way at 8pm.

Safe travels and enjoy the match.

Paul Whiteside. 

Big thanks to Steve McCormick for the photos, The Leigh Journal and the Salford match day programme.