Salford Red Devils wasted no time in getting on the scoreboard with a 28-20 win over Widnes Vikings.
Both teams were keen to carry on where they left off the previous weekend after resounding victories against St Helens and Leeds Rhinos respectively.
The Reds were able to call upon Junior Sa’u which meant Josh Jones slotting in the second-row with Matt Sarsfield losing out.
After just three minutes the Reds notched up their first points when the ball was moved out wide for Justin Carney to score in the corner. Michael Dobson landed a great conversion for a 6-0 lead.
Three minutes later the Reds were into double figures when Robert Lui burst clear on the right-hand side and found Mark Flanagan on his left who raced clear to touch down under the posts. Dobson booted home the conversion for a 12-0 lead.
In the 28th minute the Reds went further ahead when a bobbing kick to the corner was just within reach of Greg Johnson for their third try. Josh Griffin was unable to add the extras from the touch-line (16-0).
Seven minutes later the Reds scored their fourth try when Josh Griffin threaded his way through for a close-range try. He also converted for a 22-0 lead.
Widnes then managed to trouble the Reds defence when full-back Rhys Hansbury forced his way over through a ruck of Reds defenders to score (22-4).
With half-time approaching the Reds were then found a wanting when second-rower Chris Houston ploughed over the Reds line to score. This time Hansbury added the kick for a 22-10 score-line.
In the 49th minute the Vikings got themselves within touching distance of the Reds when winger Stefan Marsh touched down after Charly Runciman streaked clear down the wing (22-14).
With ten minutes remaining a defensive error by Reds full-back Gareth O’Brien and Michael Dobson enabled Widnes winger Corey Thompson to follow up his own kick to score. Hansbury landed the touchline kick to put just two points between the teams at 22-20.
In the 75th minute the Reds clinched victory when Mark Flanagan plunged over by the posts. Dobson landed the easy conversion (28-20).
This win took the Reds to fourth in the league table.
Salford coach Ian Watson said later: “It was a very good win for us. We showed some real resilience in defence, our goal-line defence was good and that got us our win.
“It was important that we backed up from our win at Saints.
“We need to be a bit smarter on a few things, but overall we have to be happy as we have beaten a very good Widnes side.”
Widnes coach Denis Betts was quick to praise his home town club: “They came out the blocks pretty quickly and we knew it would be a physical challenge and we didn’t match it.
“They have backed up a great performance last week with another one today. It’s very difficult for us when we make the start we did
“There was one stage in the second half where we could have made a difference, but we couldn’t get what we needed. We ran out of steam in the end.”
Salford: O’Brien, Carney, Sa’u, J Griffin, Johnson, Lui, Dobson, Kopczak, Lee, G Griffin, Murdoch-Masila, Jones, Flanagan.
Subs: Tomkins, A Walne, Lannon, Joseph.
Referee: Mr P Bentham
Attendance: 5,089
