Red Devils hold off late fightback to go second
SALFORD are up to second in the Betfred Super League after a 31-16 victory over champions Wigan at the DW Stadium.
Perhaps unsurprising for two sides with a combined total of 23 first-teamers missing, it was hardly a classic, but that mattered little to Ian Watson – who was actually playing for the Red Devils the last time the team beat Wigan away some 20 years ago.
“The way we played was really pleasing, especially in the first half,” said the Salford coach.
“We got at them really well and when they tightened up, we picked them off.
“Dobbo [Michael Dobson] and Rob Lui are getting really good with the way we play, and our outside backs are doing a great job for us.
“We’re looking a good package as a team, we just have to continue doing that and be consistent.”
The visitors started the match strongly and opened the scoring through Kris Welham inside the first five minutes, after advancing down the field on the back of an expert offload from Ben Murdoch-Masila.
Wigan then settled into the game, but – as was to be expected in the absence of George Williams and Thomas Leuluai, plus captain Sean O’Loughlin – the home side lacked direction, despite the best efforts of Sam Powell, who had reverted back to his natural half-back position, but was lost to injury himself by half-time. Before the breakthrough, Salford had extended their lead to 16 points through tries from Niall Evalds and Murdoch-Masila. And soon after the interval, the visitors looked to have put the game to bed when Evalds
We’re looking a good package, we just have to continue doing that and be consistent Ian Watson, Salford coach
pounced on a superb reverse kick from Dobson.
Greg Johnson then took the scoreline to 28-0, exploiting a two-man overlap on the wing.
The Warriors fought back, but continued to have rotten luck with injuries.
After Powell departed, Nick Gregson slotted into the halves, but left the field midway through the second period with a suspected broken jaw.
That left just Josh Woods, on his debut, as the only recognised halfback in cherry and white, while young hooker Josh Ganson – who only made his debut in last week’s heavy defeat to Castleford – played the full 80 minutes.
Despite all that, Wigan fought to the end, scoring through Tom Davies, Ryan Sutton and Lewis Tierney, but when Gareth O’Brien stepped up from the bench to slot his customary drop-goal – and an additional penalty after he was hit late in the act of kicking the one-pointer – the game was over.
Tomorrow, Oldham travel to the capital to take on London Broncos, while Swinton host Toulouse Olympique at Heywood Road. Rochdale Hornets are also at home, taking on high-flying Featherstone Rovers.