BEN SPELLS IT ROUT
Barba cuts up Devils
LITTLE magician Ben Barba weaved his spell over Salford as their 38-year jinx carried on.
The Red Devils have failed to beat Saints away since January 1980 and there was never any chance of that run ending.
Not with Barba in this mood, with the full-back scoring two tries and setting up two more.
His first try came on the back of some blistering pace, while his second was on the back of some superb dancing feet.
The two he set up came from one of many grubber kicks as well as some terrific off-the-cuff stuff.
Credit
It’s the sort of entertaining rugby that keeps Saints top as the only team, along with Wakefield, to have won all their games.
Coach Justin Holbrook said: “Benny was outstanding for us but I knew he was in a good place during the week. If anyone was going to complain about training in the snow it is going to be a bloke from Queensland.
“But he was great and asking the other guys if they’d ever seen snow before, so credit to him.
“He is enjoying training and that is showing on the field. He has been fantastic for us.”
Heavy rain made this a scrappy affair in the first half and Saints only led 8-2 at the break thanks to a Tommy Makinson try and the first of Barba’s two.
Holbrook added: “It was never going to be brilliant after the disruption, with training in snow, not knowing if we’re going to play so all those factors came in.
“We had to be patient and it was a good win in the end. It was scratchy for most parts but I’m really pleased to win the way we did it.”
Saints made this game, which was postponed from Friday, look harsh on Salford thanks to a devastating final 10 minutes.
Barba claimed a try early in the half but it was the final flourish that cut the Red Devils to shreds.
Louie McCarthy-Scarsbrook and Jonny Lomax went over within three minutes of each other and then Barba refused to go quietly.
He kept the ball alive, teasing the Salford players, before passing to Danny Richardson who put over Luke Thompson.
Salford coach Ian Watson said: “The big difference was our poor discipline and Ben Barba, whose quality shone out.”