SALFORD RED DEVILS {2021}

[BVADMIN]

::SATURDAY 4-9-21::


**MATCH REPORT**


Betfred Super League

Castleford (16) 29

Tries: McShane, Smith, Holmes, Turner, Mata'utia Goals: Mata'utia 5 Drop-goal: Turner

Salford (12) 18
Tries: Sio, Burgess, Hingano Goals: Inu 3




Castleford Tigers opened the 2021 Magic Weekend with a hard-fought Super League victory over out-of-form Salford Red Devils at St James' Park.

Paul McShane and Daniel Smith scored either side of Ken Sio's try for Salford as Castleford led early on.

Joe Burgess levelled before Oliver Holmes put Cas on top at the break and Jordan Turner extended their lead.

Ata Hingano put Salford back in it before Peter Mata'utia supplemented his work with the boot with a late Cas try.

Victory for Castleford avenges their defeat in July by Salford, who slump to a fifth defeat in seven games, while the Tigers also boost their hopes of sealing a play-off spot this season.

Salford suffered a pre-match setback when they lost Harvey Livett to injury in the warm-up, meaning Oliver Roberts started in his place and Matt Costello joined the bench.

Despite that, they rallied after Castleford's useful start, and they kept themselves within touching distance throughout the match.

There were further injury blows for Salford as the game drew to a close, with Krisnan Inu forced off with a hamstring problem, while Roberts was withdrawn with a rib injury.

Meanwhile, Castleford boss Daryl Powell was forced to play Turner and Mata'utia as makeshift half-backs due to injuries, while hooker Paul McShane came off with an abdominal injury.

Jordan Turner's late drop-goal against his former side capped a fine win for the Tigers, who had been pushed by Salford for much of the encounter.

The match was the first of this year's Magic Weekend, which returns after last year's event at Newcastle United's St James' Park was called off because of the coronavirus pandemic.

Castleford Tigers boss Daryl Powell:

"It was a tough game for us. Obviously we didn't have any of our recognised half-backs. Peter and JT stood in and I thought they did a great job but we were never going to be as fluent.

"Losing Paul McShane at half-time put us under pressure but Adam Milner came on and I thought he was exceptional for us.

"It might not be pretty for the rest of the year but we can be gritty and tough and today we found a way to win.

"We've got two games left and we're in a great position. The players are hanging tough and finding a way to win games when they're under pressure."

Salford Red Devils head coach Richard Marshall:

"I don't think there was a lot between the teams. They took their opportunities and we probably didn't take ours but I thought we were creative with the ball.

"They looked desperate today and they just got on top of us. They unravelled us defensively in the first half. I thought we fixed it up in the second half and it came down to a few one-on-one misses.

"The opportunities were there for us but defensively I didn't think they had to do too much to score their tries.

"We got to within four points with 12 minutes to go and probably created our downfall."

Castleford: Evalds, Olpherts, Blair, Shenton, Clare, Mata'utia, Turner, Massey, Sene-Lefao, Holmes, Smith, McShane, Griffin.

Interchanges: Milner, Foster, Hepi, Matagi.

Salford: Escare, Sio, Inu, Sarginson, Burgess, Lolohea, Hingano, Johnson, Atkin, Burke, Roberts, Robson, Brown.

Interchanges: Luckley, Costello, Lannon, Addy.

Referee: C. Kendall.

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...The BETFRED Championship Play Offs - Sky Sports...

Saturday 25th September (Mix)

3:15pm 3rd v 6th
5:30pm 4th v 5th

Saturday 2nd October

3:15pm Toulouse v (Lowest Rank)
5:30pm Featherstone v (Highest Rank)

Sunday 10th October

6pm Grand Final

[SALFORD GIRL]

SATURDAY 11-9-21::






**MATCH REPORT::




Betfred Super League

Warrington (16) 20
Tries: Ashton, Davis, Charnley Goals: Widdop 3 Drop-goals: Williams 2

Salford (12) 19
Tries: Sio 2, Lolohea Goals: Escare 2, Inu Drop-goal: Lolohea


George Williams' golden-point drop-goal gave Warrington Wolves a morale-boosting win against Salford Red Devils with the play-offs looming.

Matty Ashton, Matt Davis and Josh Charnley tries gave the Wire a first-half lead, although Ken Sio crossed at both ends of the half for Salford.

Tui Lolohea's converted try put the visitors ahead with 20 minutes to go, but Gareth Widdop's goal squared it up.

George Williams and Lolohea traded drop-goals, before Williams settled it.

With third place already assured and home advantage heading into this penultimate game of the season, this final match on home turf was a chance for Steve Price to give youth a chance.

Josh Thewlis, Connor Wrench, late-introduction Tom Whitehead and the bench of Eribe Doro and Ellis Longstaff were named alongside senior players such as Widdop, Williams, Blake Austin and Ben Currie.

That experience proved key in the end, with Widdop and Williams showing poise with the boot, while Austin impressed in an unfamiliar back-rower role.

Salford, who had nothing to play for, showed real guts and heart to take Warrington to sudden death in this game, with Sio maintaining his prolific form to take his tally to 17 for the season in Super League.

However, they were unable to stop Williams from slotting the winner.

Warrington boss Steve Price:

"That finish was good practice for hopefully what's coming in the next week or two. George had to nail three clutch plays and it bewildered me the penalty against us which the referee disallowed for obstruction at the ruck and that's something I'll take up.

"It was a good tough game, but we have got to get the errors and penalties out of our game because we are making it real hard for ourselves.

"But we showed a lot of guts and determination and courage to hang tough.

"We rotated our squad today and gave a lot of the young guys an opportunity and I thought they showed some really good signs for the club for the future."

Salford head coach Richard Marshall:

"For a team like ourselves, who are near the bottom, to go toe-to-toe with one of the best teams in the comp - I thought we were brilliant.

"There was lots going on but, from a resilience and a toughness stance, I thought we were outstanding.

"It was a really back-and-forth game. No one was quiet in the dressing room after. It was straight into what we could have done better."

Salford: Escare; Sio, Burgess, Sarginson, Williams; Lolohea, Atkin; Ormondroyd, Ackers, Johnson, Lannon, Robson, Addy

Interchanges: Taylor, Luckley, Inu, Burke

Warrington: Ashton; Thewlis, Wrench, King, Charnley; Widdop, Williams; Mulhern, Davis, Whitehead, Austin, Currie, Hughes

Interchanges: J. Clark, Longstaff, Doro, Ratchford

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 ** NEXT UP ** 

SALFORD RED DEVILS v St HELENS

KO: 19:45 - FRIDAY 17th AUGUST 2021

A J BELL STADIUM

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