The Salford Red Devils recorded their first win in four games with a fantastic late flourish in an evenly contested fixture against Castleford Tigers.
Following a weekend without a game the Red Devils welcomed back Josh Griffin, Mason Caton-Brown and Greg Johnson back from long term injuries as well as handing a debut to new signing Sean Kenny.
The sides had already met twice this season, with the Red Devils winning the reverse Super League fixture at the Jungle, but the Tigers coming out on top in the Challenge cup.
Castleford made a good start with returning centre Jake Webster going over in the corner to give the away side the lead on eight minutes.
Salford were back on level terms five minutes later when Gareth O’Brien forced his way over the Tigers line following a good spell Β of pressure from the hosts.
The game developed into a real arm wrestle with both teams completing their sets well and offering stern defence, but Salford took the lead on twenty minutes when Michael Dobson pounced on a perfect grubber kick from Rob Lui, with O’Brien converting to give the Devils a 10-6 lead.
The visitors came straight back at Salford, and regained the lead on the half hour mark when Webster went over for his second try of the night. The teams went in at half time with Castleford holding a slender 10-12 lead.
After the restart the Tigers made another fast start to the half extending their lead to eight points when Luke Dorn broke through to score.
With both teams exchanging completed sets, it was the Red Devils who would score next, with Caton-Brown marking his return to the side with a well taken try in the corner, a brilliant conversion from O’Brien bought Salford to within two points.
O’Briens boot would continue to have a huge influence on the game as the full back levelled the scores with a penalty with ten minutes remaining.
With the game on a knife edge O’Brien kept his cool again, converting another penalty to edge Salford in front and then confirming the win with a further penalty after the final hooter to put the final score at 22-18.
The win generates fantastic momentum for the Red Devils who travel to Warrington Wolves next Thursday looking to build on a good performance.
Salford Red Devils: O’Brien, Johnson, J.Griffin, Sa’u, Caton-Brown, Lui, Dobson, Kopczak, Tomkins, G.Griffin, Murdoch-Masila, Jones, Flanagan, Hauraki, J.Walne, Kenny, A.Walne.
Tries: O’Brien, Dobson, Caton-Brown
Goals: O’Brien x 5