Leeds Rhinos 8 Salford Red Devils 0
Headingley Carnegie
The Reds fans travelled over the Pennines to bottom of the league Leeds Rhinos hopeful that the Reds could follow up their 14-10 win at the AJ Bell in April and record a rare double. A feat the Red Devils have not managed since 1946.
Coach Ian Watson was able to rely on moreorless the same starting thirteen that he used in last week’s narrow loss to Wigan except at full-back where Gareth O’Brien took over from Daniel Vidot with Vidot dropping to the bench.
Salford didn’t get off to the best of starts when a kick from Danny McGuire caused mayhem in the their defence. Leeds Winger Luke Briscoe took full advantage to score. Liam Sutcliffe’s conversion attempt was a bit of a flapper but the Rhinos had a 4-0 lead after four minutes.
Not long after the Reds looked to have scored when a Michael Dobson kick to the corner was pounced on by Jake Bibby. The referee ruled though that he had failed to ground properly.
The Reds themselves then had a let-off when Rob Burrow scampered away but a poor pass to winger Ashley Handley saw the ball sail into touch.
A tremendous double tackle on Justin Carney in the 27th minute by Jamie Jone-Buchanan and Brad Singleton saw the popular winger side-lined with Vidot his replacement.
Half-time came with the Rhinos holding on to their slender 4-0 lead. They had been the better team as the Reds created little in a disappointing first-half display.
For the restart the Reds welcomed back Carney,he swopped wings moving to the left with Vidot operating on the right.
In the 52nd minute a reckless high tackle by Phil Joseph presented Leeds with a penalty. Sutcliffe duly obliged to extend the Rhinos lead to 6-0.
Most of the game had taken place in a drizzle with the gloomy conditions worsening as the game wore on.
Salford’s display was worsening too in equal measures and a dreadful pass from O’Brien to Vidot slid along the slippy surface and ended with the winger behind his own line resulting in another Reds drop-out.
Neither side were able to complete their sets of six as the error rate grew with dropped passes the order of the day.
The Reds at times got close to the Leeds line but were unable to find a way through.
At the other end Leeds fluffed three drop goal attempts and just as this turgid affair ended a second penalty for Sutcliffe on the hooter brought an 8-0 victory for the Rhinos. Their first win in eight games and only their fourth win this season.
Well the hopes the Reds fans had of a rare double were not to be fulfilled, but then anyone who has watched Salford for any length of time could have predicted they would be the fall-guys for a Leeds outfit who have endured a torrid season this time round.
Coach Watson commented later: “We turned over too much ball,”
“They managed the conditions better than we did and deserved the win.
“We just didn’t take our opportunities. There was loads of effort and guile from the boys but we just didn’t take the opportunities when they presented themselves to us.
“You lose close games when you don’t take those opportunities.”
Salford: O’Brien,Carney,Sau,Jones,Bibby,Lui,Dobson,Kopczak,Tomkins,G Griffin,Murdoch-Masila,Hauraki,Flanagan.
Subs: Lannon,A Walne,Joseph,Vidot
Attendance: 14,462
