Hero O’Brien knocks Tigers off top spot

STUNNING SALFORD WIN SENDS OUT MESSAGE TO REST OF SUPER LEAGUE

SALFORD CASTLEFORD 13 12 SALFORD put an end to Castleford’s 100 per cent start to the 2017 Betfred Super League season with a thrilling victory over the Tigers at the AJ Bell Stadium.

A last-gasp drop goal from Gareth O’Brien secured a dramatic victory for the Red Devils, and sent out a message to the rest of the league.

“That’s just set a little bit of a standard and showed we can mix it with the best teams,” said head coach Ian Watson.

“As a competitive team and as a club, we’re getting to where we want to be.

“It’s what we’ve done all season. We’ve been really good in parts, we’ve just not been seeing those kind of games off.”

Castleford boss Daryl Powell was effusive in his praise for the Red Devils, who became the first team this season to limit his side to less than 30 points.

“I thought Salford were superb,” he admitted. “They really defended well against us, came up with a smart gameplan and executed it well. They thoroughly deserved the win.”

It was a game that should have been Todd Carney’s debut for the Red Devils, but the former State of Origin halfback never took to the field from the bench as Salford used just 16 players to overcome the Tigers.

Watson admitted he had been considering introducing Carney right up until the victory was sealed, but did not want to disrupt his halfback pairing of Rob Lui and Michael Dobson, who again impressed.

“I spoke with him at the end there, he’s good,” said Watson. “He’s just pleased we got the win. He’s bought into everything we’ve spoke about; it’s really pleasing with his outlook and his involvements with the club and the team.”

Luke Gale opened the scoring for the visitors inside the first 10 minutes when Greg Johnson failed to deal with a high bomb on the last tackle and the Tigers’ scrum-half dived on the loose ball.

It was a rare Salford error in an otherwise even first period, but the home side fought back to make it 6-4 at the break when Ben MurdochMasila crashed on to a Robert Lui short ball at the line.

Not long after the restart, Junior Sa’u made an uncharacteristic error bringing the ball away from his own line, allowing Greg Minikin to score in the corner despite the attentions of four Red Devils defenders.

Murdoch-Masila superbly gathered a pass around his ankles and charged over to bring Salford within two points, before an O’Brien penalty levelled the score with 10 minutes remaining.

Superb line speed in defence forced the ball free as Castleford brought it away from their line, presenting possession to the Red Devils, who found the position for Million Pound Game hero O’Brien to slot over another vital dropgoal and secure the victory.