Salford hold off Huddersfield in 82-point Challenge Cup thriller

Salford secured their place in the quarter-finals of the Challenge Cup after surviving not one but two incredible Huddersfield fightbacks to win 42-40.

In a chaotic encounter featuring 14 tries and 13 goals, Paul Rowley’s side looked to be on course for a comfortable win over last year’s beaten finalists after racing into a 24-0 lead.

But the Giants battled back to make it 24-22 early in the second half and the game was firmly in the balance.

Salford replied with three tries to make it 42-22 with 13 minutes remaining only for the Giants to hit back again with three scores of their own.

Huddersfield forward Luke Yates scored a hat-trick against his old club with Salford winger Rhys Williams claiming a double. But it was the goal-kicking of Marc Sneyd which proved decisive – the Salford scrum-half kicking seven from seven attempts while Huddersfield’s Jake Connor finished with six goals from seven.

Salford were without influential hooker Andy Ackers due to a head injury, meaning a start for the versatile Chris Atkin. Australian forward Shane Wright was another notable absentee but Joe Greenwood and Theo Fages returned.

How it happened

Huddersfield came into the game on the back of three successive defeats and conceded two tries in the first seven minutes. A powerful break through the middle by prop King Vuniyayawa put Salford on the front foot and Ryan Brierley linked with Joe Burgess on the left edge to send Matt Costello in at the corner with just four minutes played.

Vuniyayawa was involved again as Salford scored a second try three minutes later. His strong run on the back of a penalty for a late shot on Brierley saw Salford make good ground and with the Giants defence still back peddling, a short ball from Chris Atkin saw Alex Gerrard barge over by the posts.

Salford continued to dominate and scored a third try in the 19th minute. Captain Kallum Watkins chased down an angled Brodie Croft kick to the corner and touched down.

Welsh winger Williams was the next to cash in on the Giants’ defensive frailties, burrowing his way over on the left edge after some more crisp approach play to score in the 23rd minute. Sneyd’s fourth conversion made it 24-0.

As half-time approached, Huddersfield, who beat Salford in Super League at the same venue on April 2, finally sparked into life by scoring three tries without reply. A delayed pass from Fages found Sam Hewitt hitting a great line to score and Connor added the conversion.

The visitors added a second try soon after – this time it was Luke Yates scoring from 15 metres out after Salford had put themselves under pressure by conceding a penalty. Connor again landed the conversion.

With just a minute of the half remaining, Huddersfield scored again to cut the deficit to just eight points with a superb one-handed finish in the corner by winger Jake Bibby. Connor’s missed conversion was later to prove crucial.

The comeback continued after the restart with Huddersfield scoring within six minutes of the restart. Former Salford half-back Tui Lolohea got his pass away in the tackle to the supporting Yates who raced to the try-line from 15 metres. Connor’s goal meant Huddersfield trailed by just two.

Salford re-established a two-score lead in the 53rd minute when a Sneyd kick to the corner was spilled by Bibby and Burgess was quickest to react, touching down for a try which Sneyd again goaled to make it 30-22.

Williams got a second try after juggling then reclaiming a kick to the corner by Sneyd in the 64th minute – Sneyd kicking the goal to make it 36-22. The tie looked to have been put to bed when Deon Cross broke brilliantly before passing inside to Sneyd who finished off under the posts.

Yet still Huddersfield kept coming. With 10 minutes remaining, Lolohea went in from close range for a try which Connor goaled and minutes later, Kevin Naiqama broke clear from 30 metres to score.

Yates crossed again and Connor’s goal got Huddersfield within two but Salford held out.

READ NEXT: Warrington earn hard-fought Challenge Cup win over Catalans