Burke’s Devils debut to remember

AN IMPRESSIVE performance from debutant Greg Burke helped Salford to a vital two points against his parent club Widnes.

The ex-Wigan Warriors prop joined the club last week on loan alongside Ed Chamberlain, with Weller Hauraki going the other way.

The Red Devils did it the hard way, losing Tyrone McCarthy and Jake Shorrocks to injury in the first half and with Chamberlain only handed a debut in the final two minutes, operated on just one interchange for more than half the match.

Widnes had taken a 12-8 lead into half-time thanks to a converted try apiece from Tom Gilmore and Patrick Ah Van, while neither of Kris Welham’s double could be added to. It was the Vikings’ discipline that was the crucial factor in the second period, cheap penalties allowing Salford to march down the field on the way to a Jake Bibby try soon after the break, before Burke ran an excellent line on the back of another penalty to charge his way over the line.

When Sa’u was taken high with 15 minutes to go, Lui slotted the kick to extend the Red Devils’ lead, before Widnes captain Chris Houston sarcastically applauded referee James Childs’ decision to show him a yellow card – and quickly saw it changed to red.

Lui charged down a desperate Gilmore kick in the closing stages and raced home to seal the result – and a vital two points that moves Salford back within a point of the top eight.