Disappointing Devils now left with one win in five

A SLOW start and a series of handling errors cost Salford as they slipped to a second successive Betfred Super League defeat away to Castleford – leaving the Red Devils with just one win from their opening five matches of the season.

Junior Sa’u and Jake Bibby both grabbed second-half scores, but it was the 2017 League Leaders’ Shield-winning Tigers that prevailed 22-8.

Salford had barely had their hands on the ball when Michael Shenton opened the scoring for the home side after five minutes and Castleford doubled their lead not long after.

Salford improved after the break and finally troubled the scorers when Sa’u raced over following great work from Mark Flanagan and Jack Littlejohn. Logan Tomkins and Grant Millington were both sent to the sin bin and Gale kicked another penalty to take the Tigers’ lead to 22-4.

In the closing stages, Bibby tacked on a consolation for the Red Devils.

Elsewhere, Leigh’s hopes of an immediate return to Super League took a further hit with defeat away to Halifax.

Rochdale trailed 12-0 at half-time away to Barrow Raiders, but rallied strongly in the second period to come out 24-12 winners.

Stuart Littler’s Swinton are still searching for their first victory of the year, falling to a 32-18 defeat to highflying Featherstone Rovers.

Oldham went down to a 24-22 defeat at home to York.