Ian Watson wants Salford to finish season on a high after Cup final defeat

Salford coach Ian Watson wants his side to finish the season strongly after suffering defeat to Leeds in the Challenge Cup final.

A drop goal from half-back Luke Gale saw Leeds clinch the Challenge Cup at Wembley as they beat Salford 17-16 in the final on Saturday.

READ: Leeds 17-16 Salford: Rhinos beat Red Devils to clinch Challenge Cup at Wembley

Watson said: “It’s devastating to lose. It’s small margins, we could have done certain things better to win it.

“There were a few turning points in the game but I did think when we scored that it would be our day.

“We just needed to be composed and close the game out.

“It will sting, it’s already stinging in there for there are some players at the back end of their careers, like Mark Flanagan and Kris Welham, even Kev Brown is not getting younger.

“You don’t know if you’re going to get here again so it was important for us take that opportunity.

“We’ve now got to move forward and finish the season well.

“We’re desperately disappointed and that shows how far we’ve come as a group, we kind of backed up the Grand Final and it’s up to us to keep trying to build.”

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