Not a week seems to go by without another player making a debut for Salford. This week former St.Helens half back Danny Richardson started alongside Jayden Nikorima in the halves. Richardson has joined on loan from Hull Kingston Rovers for a two week loan period. The Red Devils were also boosted by the return of Ethan Ryan on the wing. Nathan Connell dropped to the bench with Harvey Wilson starting at loose forward for the suspended Joe Shorrocks. Kobe Rugless started at hooker.

Saints had a pretty settled side with Jonny Lomax and Moses Mbye at half back. Young stars Harry Robertson and Owen Dagnall played in a three quarter line that also featured Deon Cross. Tristan Sailor started at fullback with Daryl Clark at hooker. 

The weather was very warm and humid as kick off approached with the pitch in perfect condition for the match.

An early Saints mistake deep in their own half gave Salford good field position to build something but a wayward pass to the left flank let the home side off the hook. 

Richardson seemed to settle Salford down in the early stages and a few decent sets pegged Saints back in their own half. 

Chris Hankinson got caught out at marker for the first try of the game when Kyle Feldt scored an easy try in the eight minute. 

Jonny Vaughan who’s been tremendous since joining Salford on loan from Saints picked up an injury to his shoulder in the early stages and was replaced by substitute Connell. 

The home side went left for the second try of the match clicking through the gears effortlessly with such pace. Dagnell finished superbly despite the best efforts of fullback Ryan Brierley. Feldt failed with both conversions to the tries to leave Saints 8-0 in front. 

Salford’s only really chance of the first half came on the left edge. A tip on pass was a little ambitious and not clinical enough to cause a threat.

As the match passed the half hour mark 8-0 seemed a very good effort from a Salford side that has shipped points in at an alarming rate especially away from home. A lovely offload from Sailor provided Feldt with his second try and just before the halftime hooter Mbye put Knowles through a huge gap to kill off any real hope Salford had. 20-0.

Some bookmakers had given the Red Devils a fifty point start and that looked a little harsh on the visitors especially with the starting thirteen Paul Rowley picked. What followed though was one of the worst forty minutes Salford had served up this season. Seven tries without reply made it another miserable afternoon for the Salford supporters. To make things worse though the Red Devils couldn’t get out of their own half when in possession. They came up with errors with ball in hand and looked completely off the pace.

Clark darted through to open the second half scoring account before Dagnall bagged his second. It was back to back tries on the next set when Sailor went over. Substitute Jake Burns scored two quick fire tries before Sailor walked through some very shoddy defence. 

With three minutes remaining Feldt completed his hat-trick.

For Salford there wasn’t one glimmer of hope all afternoon. No breaks, no real chances and no highlights to at least give the travelling supporters something to cling on to. 

It’s a bit like visiting someone in hospital who’s not getting better at the moment for the loyal supporters. 

Speaking to coach Paul Rowley after the match he was quite angry the way his side had capitulated in the match. He’d seen green shoots in training but these were nowhere to been seen during the match. With eleven games left Salford are going to be tested both physically and mentally a lot more this season and to stand any chance in matches that toughness and resilience has got to be a lot better. The Red Devils are back in action this coming Friday when they are back at home to face Warrington.

St.Helens 58 Salford 0.

Paul Whiteside.

Big thanks to Steve McCormick for the photos.