As far as away trips go Colwyn Bay has got to be one of the most picturesque. Rugby League by the seaside in North Wales has definitely got a future. As a club they’ve gone through some very tough times off the field in recent months but despite all that they are still here battling on and that’s got to be admired. It’s been a story of the haves and have nots so far in this year’s Championship competition.

Salford came into this match as favourites and that’s been a real rarity in 2026. With that though comes a different kind of pressure and with a magnificent away following there was an expectation on Salford prior to kickoff.

Salford coach Dave Hewitt had just one loan player in the seventeen with Cameron Bate on the bench. Callum Green returned on the wing after an injury lay off. Youngster Lewis Pilling partnered Toby Hughes in the halves. Ollie Garmston continued his run at centre. 

Salford started well making lots of metres in the opening sets of the match. Brad Dwyer went from dummy half as he seems to do every week to open the scoring with a try. Kieran Dixon converted, 0-6.

Dwyer is such a terrific competitor on the pitch and the influence he has on matches is paramount to this Salford side. Another thrilling run laid the platform for the supporting Hughes to race in. 

Jack Bibby was putting himself about in attack and defence. His physical presence and aggressive style has been just the tonic the Salford pack needed. 

The lively Joe Hartley intercepted to put the visitors in good field position. Keane Gilford found Hartley with a wonderful pass to set up the third try, Dixon was a little off radar with the goal kicking early on with one from three. 0-14.

Hughes played with real swagger against his former club. He looked confident and dangerous with ball in hand. His neat footwork and dummy put him over for a second try as Salford started to pull away from their struggling hosts. 

Pilling swooped on a wayward Crusaders pass to race away almost the length of the field showing blistering pace to score. This lad has so much potential at such a young age. All Salford’s tries had come down the left side of the pitch and the next try went that same way. Dwyer once again was the creator with Bate backing up to score.

Another former Crusaders player Cole Oakley has settled in well at Salford. His break down the right edge gave Green the chance to showcase his pace and he did just that to score Salford’s seventh try of the half. 

Dwyer looked unplayable at times and another break set Shaun Costello threw off a lovely flat pass. Hughes backed up brilliantly to complete a well deserved hat-trick. 

Joe Hartley, Callum Green and Danny Lynch all scored tries after the break to put Salford 0-60 up. Hughes and Pilling enjoyed plenty of possession with their partnership complementing each other well. Hughes went over bravely to score his fourth try of the match and was also fouled in the act of scoring which  gave Dixon two shots at goal, the conversion and the penalty which made it a very rare eight point try. You certainly don’t see many of those. 

Harry Coleman the Crusaders block busting prop had run the ball in with tremendous aggression in his spells on the pitch. He was unlucky to be sin binned for a high tackle. It looked more clumsy than malicious but this seemed to take the control away from the referee. Hartley got involved in a confrontation with Crusaders winger Waldimar Matahwa. Both were sin binned and quite a few supporters in that part of the ground felt something more sinister had gone on that the referee didn’t see. 

Salford upped the aggression in defence and forced a knock on, Green swooped to complete his hat trick. 

As the clock counted down Salford defended their line very stoutly, desperately trying to keep the Crusaders pointless. 

Reece Stanton went charging to the line looking to score and he was so unlucky to be caught inches short. This however delayed the inevitable though and Fin Yates darted over. Yates bagged his second try right on the hooter after Crusaders hooker was sent off for a dangerous tackle.

With such a negative points difference the score line is a big boost for Salford who now have five wins and ten points. Speaking to Dave Hewitt after the match he made it quite clear that his Salford side have ambitions to make the end of season playoffs. It’s a tough road in front of them but a challenge Hewitt and the players are relishing! 

North Wales Crusaders 0 Salford 86.

Paul Whiteside.

Big thanks to Taylor Kemp (Game Day 523) for the photos.