Salford secured their place in the 2022 Betfred Super League Play-Offs with a 10-50 away victory over Castleford Tigers this afternoon, with Leeds Rhinos losing to Catalans Dragons to guarantee a spot in the top six for the Red Devils.
Salford took a two-point lead after 6 minutes at the Mend-A-Hose Jungle, thanks to a penalty-goal from Marc Sneyd, after Castleford were penalised for being offside.
Two minutes later, Brodie Croft broke down the right wing and fed the supporting Sneyd to ground the ball next to the sticks.
After ten minutes, Salford had struck twice and both tries came from breaks down the right flank. This time, some clever link-up play between Croft, Kallum Watkins and Ken Sio, saw the latter stroll over unopposed to maintain Salford’s perfect start.
In the 13th minute, Jack Ormondroyd was fed through a gap and broke Castleford’s line in the centre, bumped off a tackle and threw a dummy, before the prop crashed over under the sticks.
The hosts scored their first try of the afternoon just before the half-way point of the first forty. Jake Mamo spotted a gap in the Salford line and skipped through to go over to the right.
Castleford started to take control of the game and in the 32nd minute, they struck again. This time it was former Red Devil Derrell Olpherts to score for the Tigers, grounding the ball in the left corner.
Despite some immense pressure from Castleford, Salford held on and went into the interval with a ten-point lead.
Half-time: Castleford 10-20 Salford
Just as they started the first forty, Paul Rowley’s side started the second with a successfully converted penalty-goal from Sneyd.
In the 48th minute, Watkins offloaded to Shane Wright to send our number 11 over for his first try since Round 5.
Two minutes later, Sio intercepted a loose pass and broke down the right wing. Our number 2 was brought down 10 metres out but Salford had Castleford on the back-foot. The Red Devils worked the ball left and the play finished with a Deon Cross try in the corner.
At the hour mark, Croft was up to his usual tricks. Straight from a scrum, Salford’s exciting number 6 weaved through a handful of Cas players to score a brilliant solo try in the right corner.
Chris Atkin finished the game with two assists. The first came in the 65th minute, when he spotted a gap and handed the ball t0 Watkins to send the in-form second row over down the right.
Three minutes before the final hooter, Atkin drew two Tigers players in before finding the supporting Sneyd to pick up his second try of the afternoon.
Salford host Warrrington Wolves on Saturday for our final home game of the season. Join the Red Devils as we look to enter the Play-Offs on a high.
Full-time: Castleford 10-50 Salford
Castleford: Mamo, Faraimo, Sutcliffe, Fonua, Olpherts, Eden, Richardson, Griffin, McShane, Massey, Lawler, Mellor, Westerman, Watts, Milner, Matagi, Martin.
Castleford try scorers: Mamo, Olpherts
Castleford goals: Richardson (1/2)
Salford: Brierley, Sio, Cross, Lafai, Sarginson, Croft, Sneyd, Ormondroyd, Ackers, Vuniyayawa, Taylor, Watkins, Wright, Atkin, Luckley, Gerrard, Dupree.
Salford try scorers: Sneyd (2), Sio, Ormondroyd, Wright, Cross, Croft, Watkins
Salford goals: Sneyd (7/8)
Salford penalty-goals: Sneyd (2/3)
Image credit: Steve McCormick
Referee: Liam Moore
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