Leeds vs Salford
Super League
7:45pm Friday 6th September
Salford Red Devils notched their seventh win in a row and all-but supported their place in Super League’s semi-finals using a victory over Leeds Rhinos.
A series was ended by the Red Devils at Headingley thanks to efforts in Jake Bibby Niall Evalds and also Joey Lussick. Four goals kicked by Krisnan Inu were enough to hold off a fast-finishing Rhinos side and assist Salford notch an important outcome.
The victory sees the Ian Watson’s side keep hold two points ahead of sixth-placed Hull FC, about the brink with 1 round of the normal Super League season abandoned.
Rhinos’ England forwards Stevie Ward compelled his return to activity after more than six months to the sidelines with a knee injury, while conflicting half-backs Tui Lolohea and Robert Lui confronted their former teams to the very first time after swapping clubs in financing move in June.
Salford started with Logan Tomkins held up following 11 minutes over the try-line and, 10 minutes later, it was.
The full-back ended a break off from the evasive Jackson Hastings to score. Inu converted the try to give a 6-0 lead to Salford and, soon after, the Red Devils have been .
A shift to abandoned found Bibby and the centre stepped inside a defence. Inu made no mistake to add the extra two points, taking the score 12-0.
Leeds hit back 3 minutes from half-time thanks to half-back Richie Myler. An excellent Liam Sutcliffe offload put Jack Walker through a gap, and also he discovered Myler to conquer Evalds to cross. Rhyse Martin’s transformation was effective to make it 12-6.
Inu added another penalty goal before the break to expand the lead of Salford to eight points.
At the second half the Rhinos increased their intensity, but the Red Devils’ defence was up to the undertaking. A run of back-to-back penalties had Leeds camped on the people’ try-line, but Salford maintained turning them back together with robust contact and excellent tackles.
They cracked from the 54th minute. A grubber in Brad Dwyer caused chaos at the area, fooling the visitors’ defence, also Jamie Jones-Buchanan pounced. Martin’s conversion from right in front cut it back to 14-12.
As both teams were placed under pressure defence again came to the fore. The Rhinos came a few times that were close to snatching an effort, however, Lussick burrowed around with seven minutes left to eventually end Leeds’ fightback.
Salford service erupted and there was a flare thrown stopping drama. Inu nailed another conversion to set the seal in the 16, after it was cleaned up.
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