On a day when boxing seemed to be the sport everyone was talking about Salford were once again very much on the ropes. When in that position you’ve got two options. You either throw the towel in or you come out fighting. The Red Devils are tough, gritty and definitely the latter.
Salford coach Paul Rowley fielded another young and inexperienced team. The spine seems to change every week which certainly doesn’t help. Kai Morgan started at full back with Ryan Brierley missing. Joe Mellor moved to half back with Sam Davis starting at hooker. Harvey Makin started in the pack and young forward Toby Warren who’s on loan from Leeds started on the bench.
The leopard’s had Lachlan Lam and Gareth O’Brien in the halves. Andrew Badrock started at centre with Bailey Hodgson at fullback.
Two tries in the opening eight minutes put Leigh in the driving seat. Badrock scored on the left edge before AJ Towse caught Salford out finishing a slick move on the right.
Jayden Nikorima was Salford’s live wire and when he broke Mellor couldn’t hold the pass.
A clever Lam kick into the in goal seemed impossible to defend with Darnell Mcintosh touching down. Leigh could have been out of sight but three failed conversions made it 0-12.
Salford’s inability to keep hold of possession saw the errors mount up.
A Jack Hughes break set up Badrock for his second try and a change of goal kicker saw O’Brien convert, 0-18 at the break.
Makin was denied a try by the video referee and shortly after Matt Davis scored for Leigh on the back of another Salford mistake.
Nikorima continued to out fox the leopard’s defence but Salford lacked the composure to finish off numerous clean break’s. Finally Joe Shorrocks backed up Nikorima to charge over for a well deserved try which brought the roof off from the home supporters.
The Red Devils never gave up and to be honest probably shaded the second half.
Josh Charnley scored a trade mark try with a flying finish in the final minute but another missed conversion kept the score under 30 points.
I managed to speak to Joe Mellor after the match and his attitude to the whole off the field situation was very refreshing to hear from a supporters perspective.
Salford travel to Newcastle next Saturday for the magic weekend where they will face league leaders Hull Kingston Rovers. No doubt Salford will be rank outsiders but if they attack the match with the same attitude of recent weeks that’s all we can ask.
Salford 6 Leigh 28.
Paul Whiteside.
Big thanks to Steve McCormick for the photos!