DEVILS’ DELIGHT
SALFORD COACH HAILS ‘MASSIVE’ WIN
SALFORD Red Devils put themselves clear at the top of The Qualifiers table with a convincing 62-4 win over Halifax and head coach Ian Watson emphasised the importance of getting points on the board early.
Derrell Olpherts – who arrived from League One at the start of the season – notched a stylish hat-trick as Salford ran rampant with Jackson Hastings, Ed Chamberlain, Ben Nakubuwai, Kris Welham, Lama Tasi and Josh Wood all also getting on the scoresheet.
Watson said: “It’s absolutely massive that we’ve won the first three games and are the only team to do so. You don’t want to find yourselves in a position where you’re chasing teams and points in the final weeks.
“We’ve already got six points on the board now and ten points should be enough to secure Betfred Super League status for another season. We now need to remain focused, not get carried away and head into Toronto next weekend with the same confidence we’ve shown in recent weeks.”
While it was a convincing win for the Red Devils it was Halifax who opened the scoring through Sam Wood, but this would be the only joy for the hosts.
Mercurial halfback Hastings ghosted through the Halifax line and levelled the scores just moments later and Salford never looked back. It was Hastings’ kick that led to Chamberlain’s try after 20 minutes before Olpherts opened his account in similar fashion on the back of a Rob Lui kick.
Fijian international Nakubuwai would force his way over as Salford’s grip on the game tightened. Two tries in the final five minutes of the half from Olpherts and Welham saw Salford head into the break with a comfortable lead.
Salford showed no signs of letting up after the interval as Olpherts took Sa’u’s pass out wide to cross for his hat-trick. Tasi then powered his way through the Halifax defence for his first try of the season before Hastings notched another try-assist as Sa’u went over.
Hastings wasn’t just happy with assists as he glided through the Halifax line for his second of the game before being taken from the field along with fellow halfback Lui with 20 minutes remaining.
Youngster Wood stepped into the halves and he soon became the eighth Red Devil to break a tired Halifax defence. It was Sa’u who rounded off a magnificent performance in the final minute as he pulled Niall Evalds’ pass out of the air before jinking his way over.
Watson’s side go into next week’s game against Toronto at the AJ Bell Stadium two points clear of four clubs – including the Wolfpack – in The Qualifiers table.