Sau points the way for Reds!
After Monday’s visit to Red Hall had resulted in a 6 points penalty the Reds were keen to get some league points in the bag to begin their climb back up the table. The squad was strengthened by the return of captain Tommy Lee on the bench.
In the 7th minute they took the lead when slick handling led to centre Junior Sau continuing his recent good form with a smartly taken unconverted try.
Three minutes later the Reds were into double figures when Gareth O’Brien went through a gap to put Robert Lui in for a try under the posts. Michael Dobson making no mistake this time in booting home the conversion (10-0).
On the quarter-hour the Reds registered their third try when centre Josh Griffin strode into a couple of Rovers defenders before slipping out a pass to winger Niall Evalds to dive over in the corner. Gareth O’Brien added a great touch-line conversion for a 16-0 lead.
In the 22nd minute the Robins showed they were not quite done for when a neat kick-through by winger Ken Sio was missed by Logan Tomkins to allow stand-off Maurice Blair to collect and score. Sio also converted (16-6).
The Reds restored their margin in the 37th minute when a pass from Lee sent prop George Griffin crashing over close to the posts. Dobson converted for a 22-6 lead.
With the interval on the horizon,Salford notched their fifth try when Josh Jones crossed the whitewash quite far out. O’Brien stepped up and landed a peach of a kick that curled in straight between the posts for a 28-6 half-time lead.
Three minutes into the new half saw the Robins score their second try when a kick to the corner bounced off Sau and into the arms of Ian Thornley who scorched away to score behind the posts. Sio’s conversion brought a 28-12 score-line.
A terrific 45 yards break by Justin Carney should have brought a score but a sloppy pass by Mark Flanagan put paid to that.
The Reds though made use of the ground gained minutes later when Sau got on the end of an overlap for his second try (32-12).
The Robins then hit a purple patch and rode their luck to an extent when O’Brien tried to retake his own swirling up-and-under but instead the ball cannoned off his boot and was gratefully received by Sio who burst through one tackle to race clear and score despite the attentions of the chasing Dobson. Blair added the kick (32-18).
The Reds suffered a bit of a setback when Tomkins received a spell in the sin-bin following a dangerous tackle.
Twelve man Salford’s defence was then found wanting as Rovers scored their second try in a five minute spell through centre Thomas Minns to get within ten points of the Reds at 32-22 with sixteen minutes remaining.
A short kick by Lui was followed up by Sau to complete his hat-trick,his second in successive weeks. O’Brien added the extras with another kick that curved in on the way to the uprights (38-22).
The Robins though would just not give up and exposed the Reds weak side when Minns scored near the corner-flag (38-26).
Salford then put paid to any likelihood of a Robins win when O’Brien broke through and found Lui in support for the classy stand-off to cross for his second try. O’Brien’s fourth conversion brought a final score of 44-26.
The Reds got off to a flying start and threatened to run amok but somehow lost their way but had enough composure to clinch an important victory which took them off the bottom of the table.
In the after match press conference coach Watson said: “It was important we won after the week we’ve had and we believe we are good enough to get back in the top eight even with the points deduction.”
“It was important we got back on the horse to start clawing back the points and it was a really big win.”
Salford owner Marwan Koukash earlier announced that the club would be holding a press conference on May 16th in relation to the points deduction.
Salford: O’Brien; J Carney, Sau, J Griffin, Evalds; Lui, Dobson; Kopczak, Tomkins, G Griffin, Murdoch-Masila, Jones, Flanagan.
Subs: Lee, Hauraki, A. Walne, Krasniqi.
Attendance: 3,048
Referee: Mr R Isherwood
