After fielding a fairly settled side in previous weeks Salford coach Dave Hewitt made a few changes this week. Toby Hughes picked up a head injury last Sunday so this gave an opportunity for Owain Abel who stepped in at stand off to partner Lewis Pilling. Sam Bowring returned to the pack and new signing Jake Spedding started at centre. Nathan Lowe returned on loan from Wigan on the wing. Oli Garmston moved back into the second row and Reece Stanton started on the bench.
It was a roasting hot day prior to kickoff with hardly any breeze at all. Salford were looking for a much improved performance after being thumped 52-10 in the away meeting at Workington back in March.
In a terrific first set Salford’s forwards got them moving. Abel and Brad Dwyer dictated on the back of the packs good work. Dominance in defence forced a Workington knock on and from the set scrum Salford scored a super try. Abel the architect and Kieran Dixon went over for his first try for the club.
The home side continued with their blistering start. Some more ferocious tackling forced another Town knock on before Jack Bibby powered over to double the advantage. Dixon converted this try, 10-0.
It took a real slice of luck to give Workington the break they needed. An attacking kick went loose before their fullback Zarrin Galea went over to score. Soon after Salford reasserted their dominance with another try. This time Abel crafted the chance for Garmston.
Dwyer with a thumping tackle forced a Town mistake and this lead to Salford’s fourth try. Cole Oakley was alert to pick up the loose ball and race over. Garmston might not be the biggest forward but the lad is deceptively strong and very difficult to tackle. He took a whole cluster of Town defenders over the line with him but the try was denied by the referee who claimed he didn’t ground the ball. It was a tough call really that could quite easily of gone the other way.
With a 22-6 lead Salford were certainly in the driving seat but another fortunate try from another speculative kick gave Town a glimmer of hope going into the break. Logan Blacker touched down to reduce the deficit to 22-10.
After a very frustrating eighteen months with injuries Owain Abel was making a huge impact on the game. After a terrific first forty he booted a clever forty-twenty kick at the start of the second half to put Town on the back foot. Shortly after Reece Stanton powered over for his first Salford try and it was thoroughly deserved. The hard working back rower is a real unsung hero in the pack and this try gave Salford plenty of breathing space at 28-10.
Joe Baldwin was very unlucky to be sin binned for an accidental offside incident that he couldn’t really have done much more about. Salford defended the resulting set really well before Callum Green defused the situation with an interception. Abel looked unplayable at times. Stepping like a cat on a hot tin roof he was a joy to watch from the stands. His vision put Joe Hartley away and he timed his pass to perfection to send Lowe in for a try.
Dixon came up with a huge error in front of his own posts to gift wrap the visitors there third try but Salford were unstoppable in possession and super play from Dwyer put a try on a plate for Garmston.
The heat began to take its toll on both sets of players, gaps started to appear as fatigue set in. Town scored again before Garmston completed a superb hat trick.
Galea scored Workington’s fifth try which will no doubt disappoint Hewitt. With the playing conditions in that heat though it was always going to be difficult. Dwyer scored a trademark try with just four minutes remaining but there was enough time for try number ten just before the hooter. It went to game star Abel who’s now given Hewitt a selection headache ahead of next Sunday’s match against Barrow. Both Abel and Pilling worked really well together and with the in form Toby Hughes returning next week it’s going to be interesting to see how Salford will line up.
That’s a worry for next week though. Plenty of positives can be taken out of this match with Abel putting his injury nightmares behind him to announce himself to the 2026 Championship audience.
Salford 52 Workington 28.
Paul Whiteside.
Big thanks to Adam Hanglin for the photos.