Salford Red Devils sink Widnes Vikings to sit fourth in Super League table
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Version 0 of 1. Ever since he assumed control of Salford Red Devils at the start of 2013, their eccentric and outspoken owner, Marwan Koukash, has promised he would produce a successful, winning side. Two seasons of disappointing results since that takeover ultimately led to another huge recruitment drive from the billionaire racehorse owner this year, with hopes high that Salford could finally challenge the monopoly at the top of Super League. Although seven weeks of a season does not completely suggest that has happened, Koukash’s men are at least starting to suggest they could be serious movers and shakers in Super League XX after a sluggish start. Cut adrift at the bottom with two defeats from two just over a month ago, the Red Devils now head into the Easter period riding on the crescendo of a wave. Games against Huddersfield, Wigan and Leeds over that demanding period will represent the firmest test of Salford’s top-four credentials; but right now, the league table will make happy reading for Salford’s ultra-ambitious owner. Although the majority of their rivals will play over the remainder of the weekend, Salford currently sit in the lofty heights of fourth, with just one defeat in their last five. This latest win, against a Widnes side who were fifth prior to this match, was as one-sided and impressive a victory as you are likely to see all season. “I thought we worked extremely hard for each other tonight, better than we have done so far this season,” revealed the Salford coach, Iestyn Harris. “We looked like we enjoyed it, which is important. We’ve had 13 new personnel in the camp this year and we’re improving each and every week.” Inspired yet again by the mercurial and unpredictable Rangi Chase, Salford were ultimately too classy, too slick and too powerful for Widnes, who now face the hectic Easter period with a number of injuries for their coach, Denis Betts, to contend with. “We got beat across the board tonight,” lamented Betts, who could be without 10 first-team players for next Thursday’s derby against Warrington Wolves. “We made mistakes from the kick-off and we never gave ourselves a chance.” Salford’s start was as blistering as the rest of their performance, with Chase and half-back partner Michael Dobson causing the kind of havoc that would become a familiar trend throughout the course of the 80 minutes. After Chase supplied Ben Jones-Bishop for the game’s opening score after only four minutes, Dobson fed Weller Hauraki nine minutes later to put the home side in command of the contest early on. Greg Johnson extended Salford’s lead with the break approaching but after being reduced to 12 men following a yellow card for Stefan Marsh, Widnes came to life. A superb try from Paddy Flynn was backed up by a conversion and penalty goal from Jack Owens and suddenly Widnes trailed by only eight at the break. However, although Widnes had given their fans brief hope, the second half was all Salford and 20 unanswered points ensured another home victory, with tries from Lama Tasi and Josh Griffin confirming a result that was fully deserved for Harris’s men. There was still time for the Red Devils to add further icing on the cake, with scores for Cory Paterson and Scott Taylor to take Salford’s tally to 36. Salford Locke; Jones-Bishop, J Griffin, Caton-Brown, Johnson; Chase, Dobson; Taylor, Lee, Morley, Hauraki, Paterson, Hansen. Interchange Tasi, D Griffin, Hood, Forster. Tries Jones-Bishop, Hauraki, Johnson, Tasi, J Griffin, Paterson, Taylor. Goals J Griffin 4. Widnes Hanbury; Flynn, Marsh, Phelps, Owens; Heremaia, Mellor; Dudson, O’Carroll, Gerrard, Dean, Clarkson, Leuluai. Interchange Gore, Manuokafoa, Kavanagh, Joseph. Tries Flynn. Goals Owens 2. Referee B Thaler. Attendance 3,476. |